Solar eclipse to be visible across parts of US, Canada Wednesday
Get your eclipse glasses ready for a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, which will be visible for millions across Canada and the northeastern and midwestern U.S.
The total solar eclipse returns on Aug. 12, 2026, with the path of totality traveling across Spain, Iceland and Greenland. AccuWeather’s Geoff Cornish provides the cloud forecast for the event.
A solar eclipse will darken the sky Wednesday, Aug. 12, as the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, an event that will be seen by millions.
For skywatchers in North America, it will not be a repeat of the 2024 total solar eclipse, as the path of totality will be limited to areas of Spain, Iceland and Greenland. However, people across Canada, Alaska, and the midwestern and northeastern United States will still be able to see the moon appear to take a small bite out of the sun.
When is the solar eclipse?
The solar eclipse will unfold in the sky on Wednesday, Aug. 12. For people in the U.S., the eclipse will peak during the early afternoon.
In most areas, the eclipse will last over an hour, but the height of the eclipse will generally range from 1:35 p.m. EDT to 1:55 p.m. EDT across the Midwest and Northeast, as well as southern Ontario and southern Quebec.
In New York City, the peak of the eclipse will occur at 1:54 p.m.; in Toronto, at 1:40 p.m.; and in Detroit, at 1:36 p.m.
In Anchorage, Alaska, the peak will happen at 8:22 a.m. when 28% of the sun will be blocked by the moon. In Juneau, Alaska, only 17% of the sun will be blocked, with the height of the event happening at 8:24 a.m.
What will the eclipse look like from the US?
From the U.S., the eclipse will be subtle. The moon will cover only part of the sun, creating the appearance of a small bite taken out of the solar disk.
A view of a partial solar eclipse in London, on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The sky will not turn dark as it did during the 2024 total solar eclipse. In fact, people who do not know an eclipse is happening may not notice much of a change in the brightness outside.
That does not mean the event is not worth watching. It is still a chance to see the moon pass directly between Earth and the sun, even if the view is more modest than totality.
In North America, the best weather is forecast across New England, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, while clouds could be disruptive elsewhere across the continent. In the path of totality, clouds are a significant concern in Iceland, while much better weather is in the offing for Spain and Portugal.
Can eclipse glasses from 2024 still be used?
Eclipse glasses left over from the 2024 total solar eclipse can still be safe to use, but only if they are in good condition.
Before using them, check that the lenses are not scratched, torn, punctured or damaged. The glasses should also have the proper safety label: ISO 12312-2. When in doubt, do not use them.
Looking at any part of a partial solar eclipse without proper eye protection can cause serious and sometimes permanent eye damage. Unlike a total solar eclipse, there is no brief window during a partial eclipse when it is safe to look at the sun without certified eclipse glasses.
People wear protective glasses as they gather to watch as the moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from the National Mall in Washington, Monday, April 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
What if I do not have eclipse glasses?
People without eclipse glasses still have a few safe ways to experience the eclipse indirectly.
One of the easiest methods is to look at shadows under a leafy tree. As sunlight passes through small gaps between the leaves, the shadows on the ground can turn into tiny crescents during the eclipse.
Shadows from a near total solar eclipse are projected on a sidewalk as a pedestrian passes in midtown Atlanta, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
A colander, pasta strainer or another object with a lot of small holes can create the same effect. Hold it above the ground during the eclipse, and the holes can project crescent-shaped images of the partially blocked sun.
A member of the White House kitchen staff brings out a colander to view the solar eclipse at the White House in Washington, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
The important rule is simple: Do not look directly at the sun without proper eclipse glasses.
When is the next solar eclipse in the US?
The next partial solar eclipse visible from the U.S. will happen on Jan. 26, 2028.
The wait will be much longer for another total solar eclipse in the contiguous U.S. The next one will not happen until Aug. 23, 2044.
