Weather conditions for the solar eclipse will vary across the UK. Much of the country is expected to have clear skies, offering good views of the eclipse. However, cloud may develop between 18:00 and 19:00 across parts of north Wales, northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In parts of western Scotland, as well as northern and western Northern Ireland, thicker cloud could bring outbreaks of rain during the eclipse.
In Spain, viewing conditions are expected to be much better, with clear skies forecast for the total solar eclipse in Bilbao, Valencia and Palma, Mallorca. Barcelona and Madrid are also expected to experience more than 99% coverage.
Depending on the location, the total solar eclipse will reach its peak between 20:26 and 20:33 local time, or between 19:26 and 19:33 BST.
Hundreds of thousands of people have travelled to northern Spain to witness the rare celestial event. Spain’s finance ministry estimates that around half a million visitors are expected.
Julie, who travelled with her family from Brest in France to the Spanish city of Burgos, said she was “very excited” to see the eclipse.
“We came from very far to see it in totality. I have seen one before and it was beautiful and amazing. I am so happy to have the chance to see one again.”
Leonor Aguilar, from Jaén in Spain, said: “During that minute and a half, I hope to see the grandeur of nature and experience it with my family.”
“We often spend money on trivial things instead of investing in something as beautiful as witnessing such a marvellous sight.”
Martin Griffith, director of the Brecon Beacons Observatory in Wales, described the solar eclipse as “one of the great phenomena of nature”.
“It is going to be a fantastic eclipse in Spain because the country is right on the path of totality,” he said. “People there will experience about one minute and 40 seconds of totality. It will become dark as the Moon completely covers the Sun.”
“Although total solar eclipses happen relatively often, we are not always in the path of totality. They can occur over the Pacific Ocean, for example, but seeing one over land is just incredible,” he added.
The next time the Moon will block a similar proportion of the Sun from view across the British Isles will be in 2081. The next total solar eclipse visible in the UK is not expected until 2090.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk