April 8 2024 will see a total eclipse of the Sun visible across a wide swathe of the eastern United States, as well as parts of Mexico and Canada, and you may be wondering what the clouds and weather will be doing on the day.
NASA has released a map of the USA showing average cloud cover on the date of April 8, from 2003 to 2023, suggesting the best place to observe the solar eclipse will be in the southwest.
With over 31 million people living within the path of totality, and with over half the US population living within a 250-mile drive, what’s been dubbed ‘the great American eclipse’ is going to be a major event not just in stargazing circles, but for the population at large.
It would be disappointing, though, if you drove several hours to watch the solar eclipse, only to find that your view is blocked by cloud cover, or that the whole day is a washout due to snow, sleet or torrential rain!
If you live in the path of totality, will you be better viewing just a partial eclipse from somewhere else, where at least the sky will be clear.
We thought we’d take a look at what the weather might have in store for the April 8 solar eclipse.
And if you are clouded out, don’t forget it will be possible to watch the April 8 eclipse online.
What we know so far
The weather is, of course, always famously hard to predict with any accuracy – and at the time of writing it’s still too soon for detailed forecasts from the US National Weather Service to be available.
The National Weather Service CAN tell us, however, what the weather is usually like in different cities at this time of year, while astronomers at North Carolina State Unversity (NCSU) have helpfully provided a map showing anticipated viewing conditions for the April 8 eclipse.
Based on those two sources, here’s what to expect in some of the key cities along the path of totality.
Weather predictions for US cities seeing totality
San Antonio, Texas
- NCSU anticipated temperature: 72.3°F
- Viewability: 45.8%
Dallas, Texas
- NCSU anticipated temperature: 68.3°F
- Viewability: 48.1%
- Average April 8 temperature: 53-75°F
- Chance of rain: 33%
- Chance of snow: —
Little Rock, Arkansas
- NCSU anticipated temperature: 65.8°F
- Viewability: 49.1%
Indianapolis, Indiana
- NCSU anticipated temperature: 57.3°F
- Viewability: 37.2%
- Average April 8 temperature: 41-61°F
- Chance of rain: 62%
- Chance of snow: 19%
Cleveland, Ohio
- NCSU anticipated temperature: 48.8°F
- Viewability: 56.4%
- Average April 8 temperature: 38-57°F
- Chance of rain: 47%
- Chance of snow: —
Buffalo, New York
- NCSU anticipated temperature: 47.3°F
- Viewability: 35.9%
- Average April 8 temperature: 34-51°F
- Chance of rain: 41%
- Chance of snow: 19%
Montpelier, Vermont
- NCSU anticipated temperature: 44.1°F
- Viewability: 52.2%
Are you travelling to see the April 8 eclipse? Share your experience and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com