Christmas Day Forecast Delivers Solar Surprises for Some

Solar asset owners around the world are set to experience a wide range of conditions on Christmas Day. While much of the Americas will see cloudier weather than normal for the season, particularly in the eastern United States and parts of central Brazil, Europe’s solar outlook is split with high pressure over central regions bringing clearer skies to the Iberian Peninsula. Across Asia, cloud cover is expected for India and the Far East, while Australia’s northern and eastern regions are likely to enjoy abundant sunshine.

In the Americas, cloud cover will dominate much of the eastern United States on Christmas Day, with the potential for scattered snowfall in New England. South Florida, however, is set to remain mostly sunny, offering favorable conditions for solar generation. Further north, onshore Pacific flow will bring clouds and snow to British Columbia, while some snow is also forecast over the Rockies. South America’s solar prospects look brighter, and whilst there will be above typical cloud cover in central Brazil, the overall higher Southern Hemisphere summer-time irradiance will more than make up for the increased cloud cover. 

Over Europe and Africa, a high-pressure system is forecast to sit over central Europe, shaping much of the weather for Christmas. This will bring sunny conditions to the Iberian Peninsula as a gentle Mediterranean airmass flows over the region. In contrast, northern Europe will experience cloudier skies as westerly flows bring Atlantic moisture onshore, though uncertainties in the forecast may mean that German solar dodges the cloud and sees above average generation. Meanwhile, a low-pressure system is forecast to develop in the eastern Mediterranean, potentially delivering snow across the Balkans.

Asia is expected to see cloudier than usual weather in several key regions on Christmas Day. A gentle easterly flow from the Bay of Bengal will bring increased cloud cover over much of India, reducing solar output potential there. The far east of Asia will also experience cloudier conditions as low-pressure systems move eastward. For Japan, Christmas day is set to be sunnier than average, until the low pressure systems likely bring snow to the western coast and ranges on boxing day.

In Oceania, solar panels in northern and eastern Australia will benefit from warm, sunny conditions, offering an ideal environment for holiday air-conditioning demands. The oceanic monsoon will remain relatively mild, leading to slightly below-average sunshine across Malaysia and Indonesia, but not enough to disrupt the region’s solar patterns significantly.