How an eclipse affects weather, power grids

When an eclipse blocks out the sun, it affects the weather - and causes hiccups in an increasingly solar-dependent power grid.
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[@Abitibidoug]

As a veteran of 5 total solar eclipses, 2 annular, and many partial eclipses I'll share some of my observations here. As expected, the temperature drops during a solar eclipse. As for its effect on weather, the cooling caused clouds to form during the total eclipse of July 11, 1991 in Baja California, Mexico. It's a good thing it was a long eclipse, totality almost 7 minutes, so I could get a glimpse of the eclipsed sun through holes in the clouds. The annular eclipse of May 10, 1994 also caused some clouds to form in Leamington, Ontario where I was. During this recent eclipse, from my viewing area at Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky the eclipse appeared to stop clouds from forming. Only late in the day, 2 to 3 hours after the partial eclipse was over were a lot of clouds forming from convection. There were local thunderstorms in Western Kentucky that evening (I saw 2 from the park) but suspect there may have been more of them or earlier had there been no eclipse.
As for effects on the power grid, I never heard of any problems occuring. It was a hot, humid day and reduction in air conditioning demand from the cooling may have partly offset the loss of solar generation. From my many years experience at Hydro One utility, I know utility operators always keep some reserve generation ready for if some is unexpectedly lost. The eclipse was predicted and its possible effects known ahead of time, so it was probably less disruptive than a line of thundershowers from an approaching cold front, or loss of a large nuke generator at a station like Bruce Power.

[@radicalruler88]

baba booey

[@SWSimpson]

Now, young people. Get your selfie sticks ready so you can take a selfie of yourself with that eclipse! Its okay if you look into the camera lens reflecting concentrated beams of eye melting power into your eye. Be the first to post a selfie w/the sun and be the huge celeb to all 35 of your followers!