UPDATE: Clouds May Move Out Just in Time for the Solar Eclipse on Monday in Parts of Southern Ontario at the Expense of Eastern Ontario
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We are on the eve of the total solar eclipse set to dim the skies across Southern Ontario on Monday. With the event about 24 hours away, our confidence in the viewing conditions within our region is sharpening. Clear skies are crucial for those looking to fully experience the eclipse, a phenomenon eagerly awaited by many for years.
The experience of a total solar eclipse differs significantly under clear versus cloudy skies. Clear conditions allow observers to witness the dramatic dimming of daylight, a noticeable drop in temperature, and the visibility of stars and planets.
The eclipse's most breathtaking moment, the emergence of the sun's corona, is visible only during totality, revealing delicate, radiant strands extending from the moon's silhouette, an image no camera or telescope capturing partial phases can replicate.
Under cloudy conditions, while some cooling and dimming effects may still be perceptible, the visual spectacle is significantly diminished. Clouds mask the corona, stars, and planets, greatly reducing the visual impact of the eclipse.
SAFETY WARNING
To safely enjoy the eclipse, it's imperative to use ISO 12312-2 certified solar glasses. Directly observing the sun, even during an eclipse, can cause serious damage to your eyes. You can only view the eclipse without the glasses during the few minutes of totality. Solar glasses are designed to block harmful solar radiation and protect your eyes while allowing you to safely witness the event.
Never use makeshift viewing solutions like sunglasses or homemade filters, as they do not offer adequate protection against the sun's rays. Also, remember that the same rules apply to taking pictures with your phone. The sun can damage your camera’s sensors if you don’t have the proper solar filter (such as the same solar glasses for your eyes).
your guide to the eclipse:
Our initial forecast pointed to the possibility of clouds moving into Southern and Northern Ontario from late Sunday into Monday morning. This outlook holds, according to the latest models, albeit with slight adjustments in the anticipated locations of the densest cloud cover.
A key change concerns Eastern Ontario, where the front edge of the cloud cover is now forecasted to arrive several hours earlier than previously thought. Consequently, areas such as Kingston, Belleville, and Brockville might experience increasing cloudiness before the eclipse begins, potentially obscuring views of the later stages, including totality around 3 PM.
In the Ottawa Valley, cloud coverage remains a possibility, though a very narrow strip of Extreme Eastern Ontario, around Cornwall, is expected to maintain clear skies for the majority of the eclipse. While high-level clouds may still be present, they shouldn't hinder eclipse viewing, as the sun's light should penetrate through.
This shift in cloud movement toward the east spells good news for those in Deep Southwestern Ontario. We now have increased confidence that locations southwest of London, including Sarnia, Chatham, Leamington, and Windsor, will enjoy mostly clear skies at the eclipse's peak.
Even parts of Southwestern Ontario, extending from the southwestern shore of Lake Huron to the Kitchener/Waterloo region, might see clouds dissipate in time for the eclipse.
The outlook for the Golden Horseshoe, including the Greater Toronto Area and Niagara region, is more uncertain. Clouds are expected to obscure the early stages of the eclipse in the afternoon, but recent high-resolution models suggest possible breaks in the cloud cover around 3 PM, coinciding with the eclipse's maximum.
There's hope that this trend towards earlier cloud clearance continues, potentially offering clear views over the Niagara region right in time for totality. While not guaranteed, the possibility remains, so keep your fingers crossed.
In contrast, Central Ontario and the Georgian Bay shoreline are expected to be under thick clouds during the eclipse, likely obstructing views. Those in these areas hoping to witness the eclipse may need to consider travelling to clearer locations.
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In Northern Ontario, prospects for viewing the partial solar eclipse are less favourable, with extensive cloud cover predicted from Georgian Bay to the Lake Superior shoreline.
Locations such as Elliot Lake, Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa, and Marathon are unlikely to have a clear view of the eclipse. Cloud coverage in Northeastern Ontario is expected to be mostly dense, though it may become more scattered further north.
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As we look at Northwestern Ontario, the viewing conditions are quite poor, especially around the Lake Superior shoreline including Thunder Bay, Kenora and the Armstrong region. Thick clouds will likely make the eclipse hard to view.
