Millions of people in Spain have a date with heaven this Wednesday. The solar eclipse of August 12, 2026 has generated an expectation that the State Meteorological Agency wanted to land with a special prediction, updated until this very moment. Wednesday.
The forecast confirms that much of the country You will be able to enjoy the show without interference, but identify several points where clouds and storms threaten to spoil the experience. The Cantabrian strip, some enclaves of the Galician coast and certain mountain ranges of the eastern peninsula concentrate the greatest probabilities of overcast sky right at the time of the eclipse, scheduled for around eight in the afternoon.
Low clouds and evolving storms: the enemies of the eclipse
The AEMET report draws a panorama of stability widespread, although with relevant nuances for those looking for an optimal location. During the central hours of the day the skies will predominate slightly cloudy or clear in most of the territory.
However, the models indicate that in the late afternoon, approximately half an hour before of the maximum of the eclipse, cloudy or directly covered skies are expected in the Cantabrian area and in the north of Galicia, especially on the coastline.
The same situation, although with a little more uncertaintyaffects the coast of Alborán and the rest of the Galician coast.
To these low clouds will be added a second risk factor. The hot afternoon will trigger the formation of evolution clouds in northern mountains and throughout the eastern third of the peninsula.
The eastern Pyrenees, the Sierra de Teruel, the east of Castilla-La Mancha and the eastern Betic systems concentrate the greatest chance of thunderstorms or showerscapable of blocking the sun right during the partial phase of the eclipse. In the Canary Islands, cloudy intervals will be limited to the northern slopes of the islands with more relief. For the rest of the country, the message is overwhelming: The red tones on the probability of clear skies map released by the agency indicate a very high certainty of unobstructed observation.
Sweltering heat and extreme fire risk
The astronomical event will also take place in a context of very high temperatures. The AEMET maintains orange heat notices in the Ebro, Tagus, Guadiana and Guadalquivir valleys, where temperatures may exceed 40 degrees.
Although at the time of the eclipse the mercury will have fallen between 2 and 5 degrees with respect to the maximum, The atmosphere will continue to be muggy in large areas of the interior of the peninsula and the Balearic Islands. The agency has reminded that the sun’s elevation will be low at that time, so any cloud cover located to the west or slightly north of the observer could ruin visibility, even if it is located at tens kilometers away.
The special prediction also includes a section on el Forest Fire Danger Indexwhich will reach very high or extreme levels in most of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. Only some areas of northern Galicia, the Cantabrian Sea, the eastern Pyrenees and the southeast of the peninsula will remain below these thresholds. The trend bullish of the previous days, caused by the rise in temperatures and the drop in humidity, will continue after the eclipse, so the AEMET He has asked to take extreme precautions when going out into the countryside throughout the week.
For those who plan to observe the phenomenon from a natural setting, the recommendation is twofold: consult the viewer of the National Geographic Institutewhere the agency uploads its cloud cover maps, and don’t lose sight that the spectacle of the sky can disappear in a matter of minutes if a summer storm decides to invite itself to the event.