On 12 August 2026, a total solar eclipse crossed northern Spain before continuing over the western Mediterranean. An interactive map based on 20 years of meteorological records identified the municipalities with historically clearer skies during the event, helping residents and visitors plan where to watch. Farther south, the eclipse was partial rather than total.
The map identified the Cantabrian coast as the area with the highest historical cloud-cover risk, with less than a 50% chance of clear skies during the eclipse window. By contrast, the central plateau, especially areas between Burgos and Valladolid, and the Ebro Valley recorded probabilities above 50%, sometimes above 70%, for unobstructed views. DatosRTVE and expert meteorologists emphasized the value of open plains over mountainous or forested areas, where afternoon storms and rapidly changing weather can complicate viewing.
Canadian meteorologist Jay Anderson, known for his expertise in eclipse climatology, recommended setting up a base between Burgos and Valladolid. He noted that the open plains are less prone to storms than the surrounding mountain ranges, where uplift can encourage cloud formation. The Cantabrian mountains to the north and the Iberian System to the south frame a corridor where the map’s historical data indicates a greater likelihood of clear skies.
The map also highlights the surroundings of Zaragoza as favorable. In the southern half of the peninsula, the eclipse was partial, while historical clear-sky odds remained high. Anderson cautioned that afternoon cloud build-up can still pose a risk, even in locations with favorable long-term averages. A climatological map describes past patterns; it cannot determine the weather on a particular day.
Wildfires pose a separate visibility risk from cloud cover. Recent summers have seen impressive fires in regions including Zamora, Ávila, Madrid, and Zaragoza, with smoke capable of obscuring the sun. Experts advise avoiding areas downwind of active fires because smoke can travel beyond the fire perimeter and reduce visibility even under otherwise clear skies. A distance of 15 kilometers from a fire is generally considered safe for visibility, although wind direction and plume movement also affect where smoke travels.
DatosRTVE’s tool lets users check average cloudiness for any municipality during the second week of August, drawing on ERA5 reanalysis data and Open-Meteo Archive records. The map uses a grid of 25-kilometer cells to show average cloud cover at 20:30 from August 9 to 15 over the past two decades. Its categories align with those used by Spain’s Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET), the national weather agency. AEMET also publishes official weather observations, while the map’s historical averages offer a separate way to compare locations. Neither can guarantee conditions at a specific site on a specific day.
Anderson’s review of satellite images from the past 21 years suggests that the eclipse would have been visible in Tierra de Campos in 17 out of 21 years and around Zaragoza in 18 out of 21. Along the Cantabrian coast, clear conditions occurred in fewer than half of the years examined. Summer storms remain difficult to predict from historical averages: a day that starts clear can cloud over by afternoon, as happened on August 12, 2025.
The Balearic Islands offered another viewing option, with Mallorca benefiting from the relative absence of convective storms over the sea. The Sun was very low on the horizon there, but, leaving the view more vulnerable to clouds near the horizon. Anderson noted that horizon eclipses can be visually striking but are especially sensitive to last-minute weather changes.
The eclipse’s totality track crossed the northern Iberian Peninsula and ended over the western Mediterranean near the Balearic Islands. The Moon’s shadow was about 294 kilometers wide at its maximum and moved across Earth at roughly 3,700 kilometers per hour, making the path and timing impressive to local viewing conditions. Within Spain, relatively small geographic differences could determine whether observers experienced totality or a partial eclipse.
Historic cloudiness data reflects averages, not a forecast for eclipse day. Actual visibility depends on short-term weather, while smoke or haze can affect the view even when cloud cover is low. Recent shifts in the region, including the abrupt return of rain and cooler temperatures in Bizkaia, show how quickly conditions can change, as reported in coverage of sudden August weather changes in the Basque Country.
For anyone using the map to compare future viewing locations, its basic value lies in comparing long-term patterns, not promising clear skies. Spain’s generally dry August climate can favor observation, but summer weather varies from place to place and year to year. Safe viewing also requires proper eye protection whenever any part of the Sun remains visible, along with attention to fire hazards and crowded locations.
