Solar eclipse 2026 live: Experts offer tips to view today’s event as swimmers and drivers issued warnings

The latest weather forecast from the Met Office is showing perfect viewing conditions for today’s solar eclipse across large parts of the UK.

Most of England and all of Wales will have clear skies at 7pm, which is around the peak of the eclipse. Cloud cover doesn’t look ideal for those further north, though the event will last nearly two hours and gaps do begin to appear towards the end.

The solar eclipse isn’t the only celestial spectacle taking place today. In a cosmic coincidence, the Perseid meteor shower will also peak tonight, bringing with it as many as 50 to 100 meteors per hour.

The best chance of catching one of the shooting stars will be between midnight and dawn on Thursday morning, when the constellation Perseus in high in the northern sky. Meteors will appear to radiate from that constellation, producing streaks of light across the night sky.

Astronomers advise hopeful viewers to go outside and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for up to half an hour, avoiding screens or other light sources.

A leading eye specialist has warned that today’s solar eclipse could lead to a big increase in eye complaints as people look at the Sun without the appropriate protection.

The solar eclipse in 1999 created a surge in calls to helplines and A&E departments which ran into the thousands, with BMJ figures from the time putting this at almost 2,500 enquiries following the event.

“The eclipse tricks your eyes into feeling comfortable looking at the sun, which is exactly what makes it so dangerous,” Reena Dave, clinical director and ophthalmologist at eye health clinic Newmedica, said in an emailed comment to The Independent.

“Retinal damage from UV exposure happens silently and painlessly, so people won’t notice damage until several hours later.

“If you’re planning to view the eclipse, ensure you’re using genuine eclipse glasses that have no scratches, or view the eclipse indirectly through a pinhole projector or colander. Do not use regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, as they do not provide adequate protection. Enjoy the eclipse, but please make sure you do so safely.”

With solar eclipse glasses increasingly hard to come by across the UK, another product is seeing a surge in sales.

Kitchen colanders, which serve as tiny pinhole camera that projects an image of the Sun through the holes, have experienced a spike in popularity in the build up to the solar eclipse.

“Colander sales have surged nearly 40 per cent compared to last year, as shoppers prepare for tonight’s eclipse,” a John Lewis spokesperson told The Independent.

“We’ve still got plenty of stock for anyone wanting to view this solar phenomenon safely, and, unlike eclipse glasses, you can use it to strain your spaghetti for dinner afterwards.”

The UK is not the only place to see long queues for specialist eclipse glasses. In Ireland, which is set to see even more complete coverage of the Sun, there were lines stretching hundreds of metres outside shops that still had some in stock.

Some queue goers said they have been waiting for more than an hour to get their hands on the coveted specs, which are essential for looking directly at the Sun during the solar eclipse.

“It will be worth it in the end,” said Bobby McQuillan in the queue outside the Designist shop in Dublin. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime event and the forecast is that we will have a good view of it in Dublin.”

While the path of the total solar eclipse is confined to the Arctic and Europe, the partial eclipse will be visible as far away as North America.

Parts of the US will get to witness the celestial experience, as a sliver of Moon will pass in front of the Sun. The eclipse is expected to peak at around 1.54 pm EDT, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and end at around 2.30 pm.

A toy of the cartoon character soared more than 100, 000 feet to drift just above the Earth’s atmosphere, with footage shared by the Peppa Pig Space Adventure Experience in Birmingham.

Today’s solar eclipse will peak over the UK between 7pm and 7.20pm, depending on where you are in the country. People in the north of Scotland will see it first, with those in the south having to wait a bit longer.

The Met Office has provided this handy map of peak times across the UK, as well as how much coverage to expect.

The whole event, from the Moon first appearing in front of the Sun to passing out of view, will last around 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Cities can be a tricky place to see solar eclipses, especially ones like today’s that occur close to sunset. High-rise buildings and skyscrapers will block the view for many hopeful skygazers, but there are a few great spots in London that offer well placed vantage points.

A clear view of the western horizon is essential, making London’s hills and open spaces prime locations. Expect Greenwich Park to be busy this evening, while Parliament Hill, Primrose Hill, Crystal Palace and Telegraph Hill all offering good views.

The eclipse will begin at 6.17pm in the UK capital, peaking at 7.13pm and finishing at 8.06pm, according to the Royal Observatory.

Today’s eclipse comes in the middle of a so-called ‘eclipse season’ that will also bring a lunar eclipse over Europe in two weeks time.

This isn’t a particularly unusual coincidence, as month-long eclipse seasons take place roughly every six months as the Sun, Earth and Moon line up in space.

After the Moon passes in front of the Sun in today’s solar eclipse, the Earth will then pass between the Sun and the Moon on the night of 27-28 August to create a partial lunar eclipse over Europe, Africa, North America and South America.

It will create something known as a blood moon, where the lunar surface appears to turn a deep red colour.