Beauty or a bust? Where clouds may hinder Canada’s solar eclipse
Monday's total solar eclipse is approaching fast and the forecast is increasingly clear on which towns will score a perfect view of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Several minutes of nighttime darkness will slide across millions of people lucky enough to fall under the path of totality in the mid-afternoon hours on Monday, April 8.
Even though the total eclipse only covers a tiny strip of land, just about everyone across Canada and the U.S. will see a partial eclipse. Witnessing a chunk of the sun seemingly slip away behind our natural satellite is still a thrilling experience for nature lovers of all ages.
Here’s where forecasters see the best odds of spotting the eclipse –– and areas that might miss out.
DON'T MISS: Everything you need to know for April's spectacular and rare solar eclipse
Ontario may fight through clouds
Monday will start with a sprawling low-pressure system over the northern half of the United States. This storm will spill mid- to high-level clouds over southern Ontario during the eclipse.
By mid-afternoon, as we countdown the minutes to the eclipse, the atmosphere will be in the process of clearing across extreme southwestern Ontario. During that time, there are signs that peeks of sun will be emerging in Hamilton and Niagara, even, so here’s hoping for the perfect timing.
Good news: The Port Stanley to Leamington corridor is becoming a higher-confidence sunny zone.
MUST SEE: Why clouds aren't a solar eclipse deal breaker
We’ll continue to see clouds from the stateside low streaming into eastern Ontario, with mostly cloudy skies and occasional breaks of sunshine. It’s not an ideal location to take in the eclipse if you’re looking for an unobstructed view of totality, but it’s possible a break could emerge around the big moment.
For die-hard eclipse chasers, eastern Ontario would not be your first choice.
WATCH: Could cell service be impacted by the total solar eclipse?
Quebec and New Brunswick get a front-row seat
Some of the best odds of seeing a crisp eclipse with all the celestial trimmings will fall across eastern Quebec and New Brunswick.
A ridge of high pressure over the region will keep clouds to a minimum and offer mostly sunny skies on the day of the eclipse, keeping that region as our go-to spot anywhere in North America.
Sherbrooke, Saint-Georges, Hartland, and Fredericton look to be in fine shape for Monday.
The province is rewarded with the best viewing in all of Canada. Clear skies and simple sunshine are forecast across the path of totality.
Newfoundland’s odds seem to be improving a bit
Trends in recent computer guidance have shown more favourable odds for good viewing conditions across portions of Newfoundland. A trickier setup is in the cards here as the island falls between a slow-moving low-pressure system to the northeast of the island and a ridge of high pressure to the west.
MUST SEE: Totality, corona, Baily's beads: Do you know your solar eclipse terminology?
This slow-moving system could bring thick low-level clouds, onshore winds, and possibly even some precipitation on the afternoon of the eclipse along Newfoundland’s eastern shores, including around Bonavista and St. John’s.
If you’re eager to see this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, consider heading down toward Port aux Basques on the southwest coast or even a last-minute hop across the Gulf to New Brunswick.
WATCH: A great view of the partial eclipse on the way for some across the Prairies
Western Canada stands the best chance of seeing the partial eclipse
Even though the path of totality crosses the eastern half of the country, just about everyone in Canada has an opportunity to safely watch on Monday afternoon.
The low over the northern U.S. will make for poor viewing across a wide swath of northwestern Ontario and southern Manitoba.
Alberta will score the most optimal view of the partial eclipse with nothing but sunshine in your forecast for the event.
Unfortunately, most folks in B.C. will miss out as onshore flow and showers rain on your view of the partial eclipse. You can follow the action on Monday with our livestream across all of The Weather Network’s platforms.
WATCH: Tens of millions in the path across the U.S., but clouds may hamper views
U.S. viewing also trends better for some
This is the second eclipse in the past decade to traverse the United States from one border to the other, drawing millions of visitors to the path of totality from southern Texas to northern Maine.
The best eclipse-watching conditions in the U.S. will follow the same pattern as we’ll see here in Canada, with folks in northern sections of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine expecting a crisp view of the event.
Clouds may obscure the view for those around the Great Lakes, while opportunities for clearing offer decent odds of catching most or all of the eclipse along its path through the Midwestern states.
Folks on the southern Plains might have a tough time seeing any of the eclipse as stormy weather is expected along the path of totality across Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Breaks may offer occasional views, but folks in cities like Austin, Dallas, and Little Rock risk missing the big moment.
Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on this once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse.
Header image courtesy of Stephen Leonardi via Pexels.
