[Phil Hart]

Thursday 8th November

Synoptic Situation: A high near New Zealand is expected to remain near stationary into Friday with a weakening ridge along the east coast of Queensland. A trough is approaching the western border from South Australia and will merge with a stationary trough already over western Queensland by Friday then move further east.
North Tropical Coast and Tablelands Forecast: Fine and partly cloudy. Light to moderate E to SE winds with NE seabreezes about the coast.

Cloud Forecasts
BoM Access Model: Clouds over the ranges and a little offshore. Indication of some low cloud in central Cape York.
Skippy Sky: Some low cloud over the ranges and offshore. Heavy high cloud across Cape York as far south as Cairns.
EU: 30-100% low cloud for Cairns/Port Douglas. 0-30% low cloud inland. 30% low cloud at Mt Carbine.

Satellite Analysis/Observed Weather
Visible Satellite Image (6:33AM): Broken low cloud cover along the coast, over the ranges and extending a little offshore. Thin high cloud affecting the entire inland eclipse track.
Cairns Airport (7:00AM): Broken cloud cover at 2600ft and 4500ft.
Webcams: Cloudy in Cairns. Sun in view from Mareeba and Mt Carbine but affected by high cloud.

Low cloud pattern similar to previous days and again you can't interpret any details from the models, other than coast vs inland trends. High cloud was much better described by US model on this occasion.

Chance of Success (if eclipse had been this day)
Coast: <10%
60km Inland:<20% chance of clear view, but most areas would have had a hazy view through high cloud.