Rob Virtue

Eye health experts warn that looking directly at the sun during an eclipse can cause irreversible retinal burns and permanent blindness within seconds. Ordinary sunglasses and unfiltered cameras or binoculars are unsafe because they do not block or can intensify harmful solar radiation. Viewers should use undamaged eclipse glasses carrying the ISO 12312-2 certification, put them on before facing the sun, and remove them only after turning away from the sky.

Dry, warm conditions across the UK are expected to persist, with early rainfall limited to southern and southwestern areas before spreading to the northwest. The south and southeast are likely to remain dry the longest. Rainfall is most probable around July 25–26, potentially accompanied by thunderstorms and heavy local downpours. As unsettled weather arrives, temperatures should return to seasonal norms, ending the extended dry spell.