The total solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, will coincide with a day of intense heat with practically clear skies in most of Spain. The presence of high surface pressures and one dorsal in middle and upper layers of the atmosphere will favor a stable and hot day with practically clear skies in most of the country.
However, not all the territory will enjoy optimal visibility conditions. As eltiempo.es warns, some points in the north and east of the country, included in those of the strip of totality, should pay attention to the presence of clouds and storms.
Clouds and afternoon storms in these areas
At the time of the eclipse, it is expected low clouds in the north of Galicia and other areas of the Cantabrian area, especially Asturias and west of Cantabria. These clouds will leave the skies more covered, although at the time of the eclipse they could begin to open up. Likewise, low cloud cover will affect the area of the Narrowcoasts of Malaga, Granada, Ceuta and Melilla.
The main meteorological obstacle will be the development of clouds of evolutionn in different mountain areas. Tiempo.es indicates that in the north, clouds will form around the Cantabrian mountain range, the Iberian system and the Pyrenees, affecting points inside Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, La Rioja and the north of Navarre. In the Pyrenees, cloud cover will be more abundant and could complicate visibility to a greater extent.
As for the eastern third of the peninsulathe most affected areas will be the interior of Cataloniathe north and the south of Aragon, especially the east of Teruelthe interior of the Valencian Community and Murciaas well as the eastern mountains of Andalusia.
Since the phenomenon will occur with the Sun lying very low above the horizonthe presence of clouds located even several kilometers west of the place chosen for observation could hide it. Furthermore, they are not ruled out Isolated showers or storms in the Pyreneesmainly in the Catalan Pyrenees, and in the mountains of eastern Andalusia
Clear skies and stifling heat in the rest of the country
In most of Castilla y León, Community of Madrid, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha and the west of Andalusiaconditions will be very favorable, with completely clear skies. In Balearics, where the eclipse will be total, clear skies are also expected. In Canary Islands, with a partial concealment close to 77%there will be low clouds in the north of the western islands and calima, more pronounced in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.
The heat will be strong during the day, with maximums that will exceed 35-37 ºC in much of the interior of the peninsula and in the Balearic Islands. In the southwest of the peninsula, with a special focus on the Guadalquivir valley, temperatures will touch the temperature barrier. 40ºCa figure that could also be reached occasionally in the Ebro basin.
In Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Countrythe maximum temperatures will range between 25 and 27 ºC. Although the mercury will begin a progressive decline as the eclipse at duskthe feeling of embarrassment will continue in almost the entire country.