The weather forecast is out for the solar eclipse for southern Ontario

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Published March 25, 2024 at 3:48 pm

eclipse weather forecast ontario

The much-hyped solar eclipse could be a disappointment if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

The solar eclipse on April 8 is a rare event. The next total solar eclipse in eastern Canada will be in 2079. The next time a total solar eclipse is happening directly over Toronto is 2144.

With two weeks until the big day, the weather forecast is looking partly cloudy, according to some weather forecasters.

Niagara Region, Hamilton, Burlington, Belleville and Kingston are in the path of totality meaning the sun will be completely covered for about two to three minutes around 3:18 p.m. on April 8. Niagara Falls, as a tourist destination, is expected to get the most crowds. Niagara Falls hotels and Airbnbs are nearly fully booked with some asking for $10,000 a night.

Other areas in southern Ontario such as Mississauga, Brampton, Milton and Toronto will get a partial eclipse.

But if the weather is very cloudy and overcast, people in the partial eclipse areas won’t see much.

Those in total eclipse areas will experience day turning to night as the moon covers the sun no matter the weather. The outer layers of the sun or the corona and streamers and magnetic loops around the obscured sun may not be as clearly observable if there is heavy cloud cover.

So, the weather forecast will be important.

Environment and Climate Change Canada only posts seven-day forecasts so their predictions for April 8 are not yet out.

The Weather Network posts a 14-day forecast, which is, of course, subject to change.

As of today (March 25), the Weather Network is predicting a partly cloudy day with a high of 12 C on April 8 in Niagara Falls.

A mix of sun and clouds with a small chance of rain is expected in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga and Brampton. The high is around 10 or 11 C.

In areas to the east of the GTA, such as Oshawa, a mix of sun and clouds are expected with a high of 9 C.

AccuWeather has a similar forecast for April 8 with a partly cloudy day in Hamilton, Mississauga and area.

However, they are forecasting a mostly cloudy day in Niagara Falls.

This forecast likely will change as we get closer to April 8.

Lead photo: Jongsun Lee

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