UK solar eclipse 2015: Weather and cold front could block out views

In Scotland, the eclipse will be closest to total — but the view might be obscured by clouds

A partial solar eclipse is seen just after sunrise over the Queens borough of New York across the East River

Large parts of the UK could miss out on the solar eclipse on Friday because of bad weather headed over the country, according to meteorologists.

South west England, most of Wales and the western and northern part of the Midlands will probably have the best view of the eclipse, according to The Weather Channel. “That doesn’t mean that other places aren’t going to be so good — but the in the south east of England, it’s a bit of a close shave whether the low cloud and mist will be able to clear in time,” Leon Brown, the channel’s chief meteorologist, told The Independent.

Scotland, especially the north east, was thought to be best placed for the eclipse since it will be closest to total there. But the view could be obscured by cloud — the sun is likely to be visible for a short time, before being covered by cloud, and then coming out again.

Because of a cold front that will move down the country over the morning, the south west of England is likely to be the place that’s surest of an unobstructed view. The front will cover the view for those in Northern Ireland and north west England — areas such as Cumbria, Lancashire and the Isle of Man — where people might not be able to see anything at all.

The same front will leave unstable weather behind it, with the mix of cloud and sunny spells that will cover Scotland.