by: Nick Bannin , Kristen Currie , Jeremy Tanner Posted: Apr 6, 2024 / 05:46 PM PDT Updated: Apr 6, 2024 / 05:46 PM PDT ( KXAN /NEXSTAR) — It’s almost here, perhaps the most important weather forecast for the millions of people planning to be in the path of the 2024 total solar eclipse on April 8. Eclipse glasses have been purchased, viewing locations planned, and now there’s just one thing left to do – pray for clear skies. Depending on where you are in the path of totality, the 115-mile-wide strip across the
United States that will see maximum coverage, your chances of a cloudless Great
American Eclipse vary. In the U.S., totality will reach
Texas first, before moving through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Slivers of both Tennessee and Michigan also fall into the path of totality. Historically-speaking, the further south you are, the better chance you have of a clear day on April 8, but early spring weather patterns can be unpredictable – an unfortunate reality for parts of Texas and Oklahoma which may see some wet weather. Keep in mind that forecasts can shift during the week, but this is the current forecast for several regions in the path of totality: With a little more than a week until the celestial event, the forecast for the eclipse is looking mostly cloudy and potentially wet in and around the Austin area. As things stand, Nexstar’s KXAN forecasts a mostly cloudy sky in the beginning of the day but there is hope that eclipse viewers will get some breaks in the clouds by midday. “And remember, as the
moon begins covering the sun, the air temperature drops, which can cause some lower level clouds to disappear,” according to KXAN Meteorologist Nick Bannin. With any luck, we could still get some breaks of sun during the afternoon and the potential for rain to hold off until later. If the Central
New York area enjoys a clear view of the total solar eclipse, it will have been a near miss. Several inches of
SNOW are expected this week with some showers expected on Saturday, according to Nexstar’s WSYR . While things could change over the next few days, the current forecast shows some signs of promise Sunday into Monday, however. “We’re still looking pretty good, 60s with hopefully cooperating cloud cover for the eclipse,” said WSYR meteorologist Kate Thornton. Historically, April 8 has not been kind to the Northeast Ohio region when it comes to clear skies with totally sunny days in just two of the last 10 years, according to Nexstar’s WJW . If you want to see how cloudy things have been historically on April 8 in your area, check out this map from NOAA and the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies. As for April 8, 2024, the forecast as of Thursday calls for mostly dry weather with warmer temperatures. There is, however, a slight risk of a warm front moving through the area, creating the possibility of an isolated shower, according to WKBN . “Warm air trying to build into the area next week will push a band of clouds ahead of the warm front,” according to WKBN Meteorologist Paul Wetzl . “Unfortunately, a warm front also brings clouds. It can also help produce showers. The timing of this warm front will play a big roll in the amount of cloud cover we see Monday and the risk for an isolated shower. Right now there is a 30% for isolated showers into the afternoon.” There’s still time for the forecast to shift, according to Wetzl, but as of Thursday, eclipse viewers should hope for a break in cloud cover during the eclipse, but expect for there to be clouds in the sky Monday. The forecast for Oklahoma City and surrounding counties is still uncertain, but the latest predictions from Nexstar’s KFOR aren’t great for eclipse viewers. The long range forecast shows the “potential for widespread clouds as well as showers and T-storms across portions of the southern plains, including Southeast Oklahoma.” Despite the grim forecast, things could change over the coming week as we get a more accurate look at the weather for the total solar eclipse. Northeastern Indiana isn’t completely in the clear for April 8, with cloudy skies during the morning in the forecast, according to Nexstar’s WANE . The good news is that early predictions show a partial; clearing during the afternoon, and no rain in the area . Clouds are expected to decrease as the eclipse progresses from partial, starting at 1:53 p.m. local time, to totality at 3:02 p.m. National Weather Service meteorologist Marc Chenard says the northeast U.S. currently has the best chance of clear skies, along with parts of Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois.
Canada , too, may have only light cloud cover that won’t significantly impact the view. Higher, thinner clouds should still allow eclipse goers to glimpse the sun, while lower, thicker clouds could obscure the spectacle entirely. Parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Texas are questionable. Northeast Texas, Chenard says, “could kind of go either way at this point.”
Mexico may also have low to mid-level cloud cover. Meteorologist Matt Lanza writes in The Eyewall blog that conditions are looking slightly better for northern Arkansas, Missouri and southern Illinois, where cloud cover probabilities have lessened. The news for Texas, unfortunately is still grim Lanza said, with the best odds of low cloud coverage over Dallas or Texarkana and higher probabilities of cloudy skies in the Austin, San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley areas. As of Tuesday, Lanza said the safest options are Houlton, Maine; Sherbrooke, Quebec; Burlington, Vermont; and Plattsburgh, New York. Remember, it can be cloudy all day, but if the clouds break during totality, then you’re in good shape. The opposite is also true. One, large, poorly positioned cloud during a mostly sunny day can ruin totality. Meteorologists remind viewers that they are forecasting for a less than five-minute period of time that’s several days away. If April 8 was mostly sunny, but one cloud covered the sun for those important few minutes, the solar eclipse would be considered “ruined” for many who wanted to view it unobstructed, regardless of what the weather was like for the whole day. With so little room for error, meteorologists are cautious when it comes to precise details and timing, especially this far out. “Weather forecasting has improved by leaps and bounds, but forecasting a five-minute window with specifics and 100% accuracy is not possible, especially several days out,” KXAN meteorologists Kristen Currie and Nick Bannin wrote in their eclipse forecast. “If there is uncertainty or important trends, we will relay that, but meteorology is an imperfect science that, while improving, is not as accurate as we all want it to be.” The weather can and will change, so eclipse viewers are encouraged not to change plans several days out, but continue checking their local forecast to determine their best chances for being in the right spot to get the best view on April 8. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Submit Δ Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.