Woman's View of Solar Eclipse Goes Viral: 'I Want Refund'

A woman's lackluster view of the total solar eclipse on Monday has gone viral, as she jokingly asked for a "refund."

The rare astronomical event dominated headlines throughout the day as millions across the world tuned in to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon as it crossed several states. The eclipse, the first of its kind in the U.S. since 2017, spanned North America, starting in Mexico before entering the U.S. and exiting via the Northeast into Canada.

The next opportunity to experience a total solar eclipse over the United States will be in 2044 in North Dakota and Montana, and 2045 as it crosses from California to Florida.

Thousands of visitors across the nation flocked to viewing spots to watch the event as it moved across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

One of the most notable places to watch was Niagara Falls on both the U.S and Canadian sides.

However, shortly before the solar eclipse arrived, TikTok user The Brown Crab shared a video of her view on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.

In the video, the woman lightheartedly laughs as the sky was cloudy, adding that she wanted a refund. The video has garnered over 38,000 views.

According to the Canadian Niagara Falls website, Niagara Falls, Ontario, offered views of the event, saying, "prime viewing points for the total solar eclipse are from: Niagara River Parkway, Table Rock Centre, Skylon Tower, Niagara SkyWheel."

Newsweek has reached out to Canadian Niagara Falls via email for comment on Monday.

In Canada, clouds rolled into Ottawa and eastern Ontario Monday afternoon, as the forecast called for mainly cloudy skies in Brockville, Kingston and Cornwall from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and was expected to be mainly cloudy in Ottawa from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The clouds did part, however, allowing thousands of viewers in Niagara Falls to catch the rare spectacle.

Ahead of the solar eclipse, Kelly Godsey, senior service hydrologist and meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Florida, said on Sunday night during a phone call with Newsweek that the storm systems moving across the U.S. will play the biggest factor in quality of view for spectators during totality.

Godsey said the type of cloud coverage will be crucial, and that just because a forecast calls for clouds in some locations, it might not mean the view of the solar eclipse will be restricted. While low clouds, which tend to be thicker, are likely to obstruct the eclipse, the "thin and wispy" high cloud coverage will allow for a better view, he added.