Eclipse to cast a shadow over France

A SOLAR eclipse will occur on the day of the Spring Equinox, on Friday, but the weather could get in the way of anyone who wants to witness the phenomenon.

Rain across the whole of the country could dampen chances of people seeing the moon block the sun’s rays, national forecaster Météo-France has said.

The moon will start its journey across the face of the sun at 9.23am on Friday. The eclipse will be at its maximum at 10.30am and the event will be over by 11.41am.

If the weather is in their favour, residents in parts of Britain could witness a near-total eclipse for the first time since 1999 - in northern Scotland, as much as 95% of the sun’s light will be blocked.

The so-called “shadow of totality”, meanwhile, will travel across the high arctic and end at the North Pole, blocking out light on the day the sun appears over the horizon for the first time in six months.

The most spectacular spectacle - weather permitting - in France, will be in the north of the country. About 85% of the sun will be covered by the passing moon in Paris, experts have said.

It is the last total solar eclipse visible in Europe for more than a decade. The next such phenomenon will occur in 2026. It is also the first time a total solar eclipse has occurred on the day of the Spring Equinox since 1662.

For advice on safely witnessing Thursday’s solar eclipse, click here.

As well as taking place on the day of the Spring Equinox, the eclipse occurs a day before the Atlantic coast of France will be hit a so-called “tide of the century”.

The title “tide of the century” - something of a misnomer, as they occur every 18 years or so as the moon reaches a particular point in its elliptical orbit. It is expected to reach 119 on a scale that goes up to 120. The last “tide of the century” was in 1997.

Last month a “supertide” revealed what people living in coastal areas of western France could expect when the “tide of the century” strikes on Friday.

Photo: Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center