The Met Office says the region will see dry conditions, strong sunshine, and temperatures rising rapidly through the morning. The solar eclipse tonightThe hot weather also coincides with a rare partial solar eclipse this evening. The partial solar eclipse will grace the skies this evening (August 12), captivating stargazers in the North East and across the UK. In the North East, the eclipse is expected to begin shortly after 6pm, peak at around 7.10pm, and finish at around 8pm. It says: "High-level cloud will lead to a bright but hazy evening, with dry conditions persisting overnight.