Clouds can often be a pretty inconsequential part of a weather forecast from the public害羞草研究所檚 perspective, compared to temperature and precipitation.
But on Monday, cloud cover could be what stands 害羞草研究所� or floats 害羞草研究所揵etween the solar eclipse and throngs gathered along the path of totality in Canada.
害羞草研究所淟et害羞草研究所檚 just say that cloud cover is not the reason why meteorologists get into the profession,害羞草研究所� Gerald Cheng, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said in an interview.
Cheng joked that he was 害羞草研究所渢otally reluctant害羞草研究所� to make specific predictions for what eclipse watchers could expect to see during a narrow window of time come Monday afternoon.
That害羞草研究所檚 because weather forecasts can be fickle, he said.
A cloud cover prediction four days in advance, stretching across six provinces, in a brief window of time 害羞草研究所渃an be really off,害羞草研究所� he said.
But with those caveats in mind, here is a brief preliminary forecast for Monday, along the solar eclipse害羞草研究所檚 path of totality.
Ontario
In a sign of just how quickly things can change, Cheng said the forecast for southwestern Ontario shifted over the course of a few hours on Thursday.
Around noon, he said the Niagara region and areas along Lake Erie害羞草研究所檚 shores were likely to see blanket cloud cover. But three hours later he updated that forecast to say it could be mainly cloudy, to a mix of sun and cloud.
It appears as though there could be patches in the cloud cover, he said.
害羞草研究所淵ou may be lucky to get a break in there.害羞草研究所�
Moving into eastern Ontario, around Kingston and Cornwall, Cheng said conditions appeared to be slightly better, but still favoured clouds.
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Quebec
The forecast is looking favourable for Quebec regions in the eclipse害羞草研究所檚 path, Cheng said.
害羞草研究所淚t seems like the best, according to our official forecast and looking at the information I have,害羞草研究所� he said.
Cheng said come Monday it 害羞草研究所渟hould be sunny害羞草研究所� in Montreal and Sherbrooke, based on what he could see.
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Newfoundland
A low-pressure system is threatening to spoil the eclipse for watchers in Newfoundland.
Cheng said the offshore system, set to develop off Nova Scotia and move into Newfoundland, could bring 害羞草研究所渁 lot of cloud cover害羞草研究所� on Monday.
While he called the area around Gander basically 害羞草研究所渁 writeoff,害羞草研究所� he said clouds could start to break on the southwestern tip of the island.
害羞草研究所淲hen we deal with offshore systems, there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of uncertainty because there害羞草研究所檚 not a lot of observations, so you always have to check back and see if the system is close or not close,害羞草研究所� he said.
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New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, N.S.
That same low-pressure system was generating some uncertainty in the forecast for the Maritimes, said Cheng.
Cheng said 害羞草研究所渋t could be a mix of sun and clouds害羞草研究所� for parts of New Brunswick, through Prince Edward Island, the tip of Cape Breton and into the Quebec archipelago of the Iles-de-la-Madeleine.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 really a mix because the system is leaving,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t depends on the speed of the system.害羞草研究所�
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