Cloudy eclipse forecast

Tuesday 17 March 2015

This week’s near-total eclipse could be hidden by too much cloud again.

Forecasters say the astronomical event during rush hour on Friday looks likely to be much like the last one 15 years ago when you couldn't get a good view of it.

Duty Forecaster Peter Munns said: “We have no clear definite picture, it’s likely that the wind is likely to be north to north east, dragging quite a lot of cloud with it over the Channel. If it’s more northerly we’ll be into a fairer situation.

“There’s still a fair degree of uncertainty over the amount of cloud but there’s a good chance there will be cloud obscuring the view.”

The cosmic coverage will plunge Britain into darkness from 8.30 am and Mr Munns says it's expected to get dark here around 9.25 am.

If we do manage to get a glimpse we can expect to see 85% of the sun covered by the moon. That figure increases the further north you are but you’ll need to head for the Faroe Islands if you want to see the sun completely covered this time around.

We’ll have to wait until August 2026 for the next near-total solar eclipse in Britain but we won’t see the sun totally hidden by the moon until September 2090.