April 8 will be the last opportunity to view a total solar eclipse from the United States or Canada until 2044. But if the skies are overcast or there is significant storm activity, you may lose your chance to experience this spectacle.
If you have an eclipse viewing destination in mind, enter it into the box below to see the latest cloud cover forecast. The data on which the map is based will be updated regularly when the event kicks off on Monday, so check back for the latest news.
See how much of the sky is cloudy during a solar eclipse
The percentage of the sky covered by clouds
Yun Shao↑
More clouds↓
The map above shows forecasts for cloud cover – the amount of cloud cover in the sky.
What do the clouds look like?
rare
Cloud coverage is less than 10%
Nearly everyone along the path of a total solar eclipse will have at least some chance of having clouds obscure their view.
Follow us for live updates on the Total Solar Eclipse.
Maine was an exception, where National Weather Service forecasters said Sunday morning that eclipse observers “had a near-perfect day.”
In Central Texas, forecasters expect a high chance of cloud cover. Further northeast along the path, forecasters in Dallas wrote, “It will be a matter of luck if the cloud break happens to coincide exactly with the eclipse.” Forecasters in Texas are increasingly worried about severe storms, including With hail and possible tornadoes, these storms can occur within a few hours across much of the state (the Rio Grande Valley being the exception).
In Little Rock, Arkansas, more optimism is brewing at the weather office. While the area may have cloud cover, it may consist of high-level cirrus clouds through which the eclipse will be visible. Similar high-level clouds are also possible in Paducah, Kentucky, and Indianapolis, where good viewing prospects are expected.
How thick are cirrus clouds? It's the million-dollar question, said Joe Goodesward, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Little Rock. If they are kept thin, they will cause only minor interference with eclipse observations. The outlook is improving in Cleveland, but the forecast from Cleveland to Buffalo is dismal.
Upstate New York may experience some better viewing conditions. However, forecasters at the National Weather Service's Buffalo office said it may take a little luck to experience good viewing conditions in the western part of the state.
In Burlington, some high clouds will filter the eclipse, but it will still be good for viewing.
Meteorologist Jay Anderson has extensive experience tracking and viewing solar eclipses even when weather forecasts are uncertain. He runs a website called Eclipsophile, which provides detailed analysis of weather conditions to help eclipse trackers.
Mr Anderson said he would be able to see the eclipse and predicted cloud cover of 50 to 60 per cent. But around 90% or so, that means it's almost completely cloudy and you'd have to be very lucky to see the moon covering the sun.
Mr. Anderson said that on a typical eclipse day, he would look at satellite images or simply look up in the sky to see if there were any sunny spots.
With some eclipses, you'll need a little luck, no matter what the predictions are. In 2009, Mr. Anderson led a Chinese tour group on a trip about 125 miles outside Shanghai to avoid bad weather. When they arrived at their destination, it was pouring rain. But as totality approached, the rain suddenly stopped and the clouds cleared. They were able to see the total solar eclipse for nearly five minutes.
“Sometimes the weather gods smile on you,” Mr. Anderson said.
In 1979, Jay Anderson watched his first total solar eclipse outside Winnipeg, Canada. Since then, he has traveled to watch every total solar eclipse.
Photos by Jay Anderson
For years, he has worked with tour companies to guide eclipse viewers to the best locations. He compared watching a solar eclipse to chasing a storm. During the trip, he told the cruise ship captain to turn the ship around and let the bus driver spend hours searching for a resting place in the clouds.
Mr Anderson said those unlucky enough to find themselves under dark skies during a solar eclipse would still notice the sudden plunge into darkness as the moon passes in front of the sun. But they won't be able to see all the details of the eclipse—the shadow band, the diamond ring, the corona.
“It's silent compared to being in the sun,” he said.
Even if you're traveling for good weather, try to stay within the path of totality to experience the full effects of the sun being completely obscured by the moon—clouds or no clouds.
historical data
history cloud
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Source: NASA Aqua/MODIS
Note: Average cloud cover for the eight-day period from April 7 to April 14, 2004, 2023, derived from satellite measurements taken at approximately 1:30 pm local time. Solar eclipse calculations adapted from Fred Espenak and Chris O'Byrne's Eclipse Explorer.
Before reliable cloud forecasts became available, The New York Times analyzed historical cloud cover derived from satellite measurements.
Historical cloud cover at the center of the eclipse path
Source: NASA Aqua/MODIS
NOTE: Locations are plotted based on their longitude, even if they are not located on the centerline of the path of totality.
