Mother Nature may obscure the eclipse, top meteorologists told USA TODAY on Thursday when asked about the weather forecast for the April 8 spectacle, which is now just 10 days away.
The total eclipse will cross more than a dozen states as it passes from Texas to Maine on the afternoon of April 8. Millions of people are expected to travel to see it, which will also attract scholars from all over the country. To study its unique effects On the ground And its atmosphere.
Experiencing a total solar eclipse will plunge people along a narrow path into midday darkness, but people outside the path of totality can still use eclipse glasses (possibly free eclipse glasses) to see the moon pass in front of the sun.
That is, if the clouds don't get in the way.
Expectations from the federal government Climate Prediction Centre Meteorologist Anthony Artosa said April 8 calls for “widespread cloudiness and rainfall across much of the eastern half of the country.” “This is of course not suitable for good viewing conditions near the path of totality on April 8.”
Accuweather Meteorologist John Viereck was also on the pessimistic side, predicting “a lot of clouds” from east Texas to the Ohio Valley on April 8.
Both forecasters interviewed admit that it is difficult to say with certainty about the weather in the near future. Trying to predict daily weather conditions to this extent is “extremely difficult, and this fact cannot be overstated,” Artusa said.
Some eclipse chasers say the clouds are not deal-breakers. The moon's shadow will plunge everything in its narrow path from eclipse into darkness, regardless of whether there are clouds in the sky, the writer and eclipse chaser Jimmy Carter on WhenistheNextEclipse.com He advises those who have not seen the eclipse before not to be frightened by the clouds.
Meanwhile, the early forecast is also a surprise for people living in the Northeast: It shows that the further northeast you go, the greater the chances of clear skies. This is the opposite of historical trends in cloud cover.
Surprising early cloud forecast for the eclipse
“At this early stage, computer models depict a storm developing over the Southeast around the time of the eclipse, with widespread cloudiness and precipitation across much of the eastern half of the country,” Artusa said.
Surprisingly, these early forecasts show that the further northeast you go, the greater the chances of clear skies. “Upstate New York through inland New England appears to be the best option,” Artusa added.
Jonathan Erdmann of Weather.comIn an online forecast issued Thursday afternoon, it said that “parts of the Northeast may see less cloud cover and precipitation” than the central United States.
How do I watch the 2024 solar eclipse if clouds are not blocking it?
There are several ways to view the eclipse:
- Get the full experience in person: If you are in a narrow strip of US territory stretching from Texas to Maine, you can see the moon blocking the sun and its shadow casting a shadow on the Earth for a few minutes. You may briefly be able to look up without eye protection and see the moon blocking the sun.
- Watch from outside the college course: Much of the United States will get a partial view of the eclipse that is not nearly as impressive as being in the path of the total eclipse. The Earth will not be plunged into complete darkness and you will have to wear goggles to see the Moon partially blocking the Sun.
- Watch a live broadcast: Check back on April 8 for a video stream of the overall track. It's not like being there in person, but at least you won't have to sit in traffic.
What time is the solar eclipse on April 8?
The eclipse will begin in Texas at 1:27 PM EST and end in Maine at 3:35 PM EST, but the exact time of the eclipse varies depending on where you are in its path.
You can search by zip code to find the exact time for your location.
Where will the April eclipse be visible?
All 48 U.S. states can at least see the moon crossing the sun, but that view is trivial compared to being in the path of a total eclipse.
Since the narrow route includes or is located near some of the country's largest cities, expect millions of people to congregate in a strip of land just over 100 miles wide that extends from the Texas/Mexico border to the Maine/Canada border.
Here are the major cities in each state where you can expect to experience the total eclipse (note that the times included do not take into account when the partial eclipse begins and ends):
- Dallas, Texas: 1:40 – 1:44 PM CST
- Idabel, Oklahoma: 1:45-1:49 p.m. CST
- Little Rock, Arkansas: 1:51 – 1:54 PM CST
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri: 1:56 – 2:00 PM CST
- Paducah, KY: 2-2:02 PM CST
- Carbondale, IL: 1:59 – 2:03 PM CST
- Evansville, Indiana: 2:02-2:05 PM CST
- Cleveland, Ohio: 3:13-3:17 PM EST
- Erie, PA: 3:16-3:20 PM EST
- Buffalo, NY: 3:18-3:22 PM EST
- Burlington, Vermont: 3:26-3:29 PM EST
- Lancaster, New Hampshire: 3:27-3:30 PM EST
- Caribou, Maine: 3:32-3:34 PM EST
NASA doesn't certify solar eclipse glasses
In the period before After a total solar eclipse, the online market was filled with manufacturers claiming to sell NASA-certified goggles.
A seal of approval from one of the world's leading space agencies sounds prestigious, doesn't it?
It should also be a sure sign for you to avoid that particular product if possible.
It's not because NASA isn't reputable or knowledgeable when it comes to all things cosmic. It's because NASA is not interested in endorsing any kind of merchandise.
Online marketplaces are filled with retailers selling solar eclipse glasses that claim to carry the NASA seal of approval. Consider that a red flag to look elsewhere.
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