I’ve been researching the next four total eclipses - up through November 2030, and at least considering predicted cloud cover, the first two seem more promising than the others. ?The next four total eclipses are as follows:

Date ? ? ?Best viewing prospects?

August 12, 2026 - Spain

August 2, 2027 - ? Spain near Gibraltar, better in Northern Africa

July 22, 2028 - Australia, New Zealand

November 25, 2030 - Southern Africa, Southern Australia?

I found that the site Timeanddate.com?allows you to scroll along the path of an eclipse and gather much useful information which I feel might help me to make the most informed decision regarding as to where the best viewing options might be. ?After my disappointing experience in San Antonio, I think that one of my primary considerations as to choosing viewing locations will be the lowest average predicted cloud cover along the path of totality possible. ?The T&D site allows you to scroll along the path - or anywhere near it - and see what the average cloud cover since 2000 is for any location, along with all sorts of other pertinent data like duration of totality, timing, and cloud cover. ?San Antonio had a predicted cloud cover for the recent total eclipse of about 47% and our part of Canada was largely in the lower 70% range. ?If I’m going to travel for an eclipse, I’m going to maximize my chance of success by picking a location that is historically as dry as I can get.

General eclipse info through 2030:

August 12, 2026:

August 2, 2027:

The first two dates offer the driest options. ?On the 8/2/26 eclipse, Spain offers the best hope for clear skies with at least 2 dozen towns that I’ve identified with average cloud coverage of 17-19%. ?Most of those are towns which are in the central mountainous region of Spain. ?However, Spain is near the end of the eclipse’s path and as such has at most about 1’50” totality. ?The 8/2/27 eclipse has maximum totality durations from 4’51” to 5’27” in Northern Africa. ?I’ve identified at least eight towns in Spain with durations ranging from 2’1” to 3’39”. ?The average cloud coverage in both Spain and Africa is FAR better at figures from 0-9%. ?On average, the limited sites in Spain were the drier than other countries with figures ranging from 3-7%. ?The African options, while more numerous, bring into play vagaries of political instability, social unrest, or outright failed state dysfunction. ?Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia seem to be largely more inviting options than Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia. ?

I’ve begun compiling a spreadsheet for all the pertinent factors that I can come up with and will chart my course accordingly.

Totality is at the top of my bucket list and I am aiming at maximizing my chances of actually seeing it next time.