Cloud may obscure Iceland’s August 12 solar eclipse

Cloudy conditions are expected across Iceland on August 12, although significant uncertainty remains over how the weather will change during the day, mbl.is reports.

Meteorologist Einar Sveinbjörnsson says it is still too early to determine from the forecasts where the best conditions will be for viewing the total solar eclipse. He made the comments in a recent Facebook post titled “Solar eclipse prospects on Sunday”.

Einar said several main features of the forecast were becoming clearer. A trough in the upper-level flow is expected to lie over the country, accompanied by relatively warm air. In such conditions, he said, it is generally fairly humid and cloudy overall.

The low-pressure system’s front is expected to move north and west across the country during the first part of the day, bringing dull weather and rain in western Iceland.

Some grounds for optimism

After the front passes, southeasterly winds and drier air are expected. Forecast satellite imagery suggests that at least broken cloud cover could develop afterwards. The imagery indicates that the Snæfellsnes peninsula and most of Breiðafjörður could have some breaks in the cloud.

Einar said that in similar weather conditions, cloud often clears in southeasterly winds in western Iceland, in the shelter of the mountain ranges stretching from Reykjanes and Hengill north towards Langjökull.

“Although certainly not always, this gives reason for optimism,” he wrote.

However, Einar stressed that considerable uncertainty remains over the timing of the weather changes and, consequently, the cloud cover during the day.