As Americans prepare for the wondrous celestial spectacle of a total solar eclipse on April 8, cloudy skies or thunderstorms have been forecast for some areas in the direct path of totality.
The latest national weather forecast shows that during the eclipse heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are likely to be soaking parts of the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley, which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Arkansas and the majority of Texas.
The best chances for viewing the totality under clear skies—while the moon passes in front of the sun creating darkness during the day—will be the New England area or the northern regions of Indiana and Ohio.
Another region with potential for clear skies runs from northern Arkansas to central Indiana through southern Illinois and Missouri, although this area has the greatest uncertainty due to possible high clouds.
With Dallas, Texas likely to be mostly cloudy or rainy, people interested in the eclipse might want to look into driving to northern Arkansas or eastern Oklahoma.
Best places for viewing the totality
Further north in Indianapolis, skies should be partly sunny, with possible clouds.
Another city ripe for the eclipse spotlight is Buffalo, New York, which also features a forecast of partly sunny, with possible clouds.
The very best place, according to the National Weather Service, will be in Burlington Vermont.
However, a cloudy forecast doesn’t mean your experience will be totally ruined. As opposed to completely overcast, a ‘broken sky’ with clouds that don’t form a thick layer can be thinner in spots and offer some viewing opportunities—so there’s hope for some clearing compared to an overcast day. The sky will also grow quite dark during totality and may turn different, sunset-like colors.
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High clouds are also not as bad. Under these, while in the path of totality, people may get a few chances to see the phenomenon. The eclipse will be visible, but blurry behind a layer of thin clouds.
Don’t forget to wear glasses, which are widely available inexpensively, because even during eclipses it is never good to stare at the sun.
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