The moon will move to cover the sun in a total solar eclipse for people in Greenland, Iceland and Northern Spain.
The UK will only experience a partial eclipse, but around 90% of the sun will be covered by the moon meaning people should still be in for a spectacular sight in the skies.
It is the most complete eclipse seen in the UK since 1999.
So as the day approaches, the all-important question for any outdoor event in London will be asked “what is the weather forecast?”
A woman and her two children watch the start of the eclipse on Westminster Bridge in central London 11 August 1999. London skies were mostly cloudy for the event
AFP via Getty Images
What will the weather be like in London for the solar eclipse?
The eclipse takes place in summer, so there’s a better chance of clear skies than you’d expect in autumn or winter.
But at the moment its too far away to accurately predict the weather.
However hopes have been raised of clear skies by the Met’s long term forecast for the UK up to August 12 that says while some rain may come at the start of the month, “it will likely become mostly dry once again as we head toward mid-August”.
It says: “Temperatures closer to average, still the potential for some warmer interludes, especially in the south, although perhaps not the heat we have seen in recent weeks.”
The long-term forecast for the rest of the month also suggests it will be dry around the middle of the month, stating: “Dry and settled conditions will probably dominate much of this period.”
We’ll be updating the forecast as we get closer to the day.
This year’s solar eclipse will begin at 6.17pm on August 12.
The whole phenomenon will last around an hour and 49 minutes until 8.06pm.
The height of the eclipse is expected at 7.13pm for Londoners.
