Spain's upcoming total solar eclipse: Clear skies uncertain until a week prior, says meteorologist

The prospect of witnessing a total solar eclipse in Spain in August is generating excitement, but a crucial question looms: will the skies be clear? Meteorologist Mar Gómez, a doctor in Physical Sciences, stated that reliable weather predictions for the event will only be possible about a week beforehand, as the "trend" becomes visible.

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I would love to give you an answer about the weather forecast for that day, but the truth is that we don't know because it is reliable only a few days in advance.

Gómez, who directs meteorology at eltiempo.es, cautioned that while August is generally a warm month, the possibility of storms cannot be discounted. This uncertainty applies to all regions where the total phase of the eclipse will be visible, including Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, Aragón, the Valencian Community, and the Balearic Islands. A Coruña, with its Atlantic orientation, is considered a potentially prime viewing location, but weather remains a significant variable.

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We know that August months are hot months. In general, they are also months in which storms sometimes appear.

This upcoming eclipse holds particular significance as it will be the first total solar eclipse observed on the Iberian Peninsula in over a century, with the last one occurring in 1912. Gómez clarified that this event is distinct from the annular eclipse experienced in 2005. "It's not exactly the same; it's true that the Moon covers the solar disk almost completely, but I say 'almost' because precisely in an annular eclipse, we see that ring of fire, because it hasn't been completely covered," she explained, noting the Moon's slightly greater distance from Earth during an annular event.

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It is a 'unique' eclipse, because it will be the first total one that can be seen on the Iberian Peninsula since 1912.

While the total phase of the eclipse will cause complete darkness within the path of totality, Gómez noted that the sudden obscuration might temporarily affect animal biorhythms, potentially triggering responses like birds returning to nests or insects to their mounds. However, these effects are expected to be short-lived as the total phase will last only a couple of minutes. The eclipse, occurring near sunset, may also present a "blood moon" effect due to atmospheric refraction, giving the sun a slightly flattened and reddish appearance.

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It's not exactly the same; it's true that the Moon covers the solar disk almost completely, but I say 'almost' because precisely in an annular eclipse, we see that ring of fire, because it hasn't been completely covered.