Metro Vancouver sky-watchers may have been less than thrilled about waking up to rain ahead of the total solar eclipse on Monday (April 8).
While locals wouldn't have been able to see the eclipse reach maximum coverage, it would have been possible to view the moon partially covering it provided skies were mostly clear.
However, it is expected to rain in most places across the region when the rare event occurs. For example, V.I.A.'s Downtown Centre Weatherhood station in Vancouver shows a 99 per cent chance of wet weather through the morning, along with a high of 9 C and a low of 6 C (see slide two for weekly forecast).
People in the Lower Mainland would have seen a "crescent 'cut out'" move across the sun when the eclipse reaches its peak. In other parts of the continent, the moon will block out the light from the sun, creating an eerie mid-day darkness.
What time is the solar eclipse in Metro Vancouver?
In Vancouver, the partial solar eclipse will start at 10:43 a.m. and reach its maximum coverage (17 per cent) at 11:30 a.m. The event will finish at 12:20 p.m.
The total event will last one hour and 37 minutes.
Cloud coverage will prevent the display from being visible locally but several live streams will show a clear view of the total solar eclipse.
Locals can catch the NASA solar eclipse live stream on its website to see the event on the path of totality. A couple of places in the Lower Mainland will also host indoor viewing parties showing different live streams.
The eclipse will start over the Pacific Ocean and then pass across continental North America. The first place that will experience totality is Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. The path of totality will then enter the United States through Texas, making its way into numerous states including Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maine, as well as Canadian provinces including Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
The eclipse will "exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m.," according to NASA.
NASA has a map that shows what areas will see the eclipse in totality. Anyone in the path of totality will have a chance to see the total eclipse, weather permitting (see slide three).
