We’re only one year away from the complete shadow of the moon being cast over a large portion of North America during the Great North American Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024, but the question on everyone’s mind is: Will the weather cooperate for viewing this rare sight?
The total solar eclipse in 2024 will take place in the afternoon as it begins in Mexico and slices across Texas and 14 other U.S. states before exiting through the Canadian Maritimes.
Cities along the path of totality are already planning events and large watch parties to ring in the Great North American Solar Eclipse that will last just a couple of minutes in any given location.
Against all odds, a limited part of the U.S. that consists of southeastern Missouri, western Kentucky and southern Illinois will be in store for their second total solar eclipse in less than a decade since they also experienced totality during the Great American Solar Eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017.
COUNTDOWN IS ON: THE GREAT NORTH AMERICAN SOLAR ECLIPSE
The American Astronomical Society says that any given spot on the planet only sees temporary darkness from the moon’s shadow once every 400 years.
So where’s the best place to view the eclipse in two years without clouds getting in the way?
Long-range forecasts don’t quite extend that far out in time, but cloud coverage climatology over many years might provide some indication of where viewing conditions could be the most favorable.
Dr. Brian Brettschneider, an Alaska-based climatologist, compiled the following map, which shows the average cloud coverage during an early-April afternoon based on 44 years of data from 1979 to 2022.
The climatology data indicate clouds are more likely to get in the way along northern portions of the eclipse’s path, while southern areas tend to have a clearer sky at the time of year coinciding with the eclipse.
Cities such as Austin and San Antonio in Central Texas, which will be situated along the path of totality on April 8, 2024, average about 50% cloud coverage on an early-April afternoon.
Meanwhile, the sky is typically 60% to 70% filled with clouds at the same time in places like Cleveland and Buffalo, New York, also along the path of totality for the upcoming Great North American Solar Eclipse.
HERE ARE THE ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN APRIL
According to a March 2015 blog post written by Brettschneider, April is the sixth-cloudiest month of the year on average for the Lower 48 states.
But it’s important to keep in mind that these are simply average amounts of cloud coverage, and the weather doesn’t always abide by what it’s “supposed” to do.
A low-pressure system could potentially sweep across Texas and disrupt viewing conditions with clouds and rain in the state that favors the clearest skies along the path of the eclipse. Or high pressure might park itself over the northeastern U.S. and bring a clear day to the areas most likely to have stubborn cloud coverage in early April.
The exact forecast details such as the amount of cloud coverage won’t be known until the total solar eclipse is about a week away. But in the coming weeks, you’ll be able to get some early predictions for locations along the path of totality using the FutureView feature inside your FOX Weather app. Simply click the “plan” tab to track the weather for events up to nearly one year in advance. Click here to learn how to take advantage of this powerful tool.
If the weather doesn’t cooperate for this rare event in 2024, the next total solar eclipse visible from the U.S. will happen on Aug. 12, 2045.