Cloud scientists reveal the best places to see the April 8 Total Solar Eclipse

Which place will have the best weather for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8? It’s the question everyone in North America wants to answer before the momentous celestial event, especially since the path across the continent sees a transition from winter to late spring. The answer is easy: any place within the path of totality with a clear sky for a few minutes the moon completely blocks the sun – totality!

Climate vs Weather

This knowledge will only be revealed on the day itself, although probably also in the weather forecasts a few days before. For now, all we have is climatology based on long-term trends — but new 2024 eclipse cloud cover maps have just been released.

New cloud climatology image data by climate researchers at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies reveals the possibility of clear skies across North America. Based on data from the GOES weather satellites, it now also covers Atlantic Canada. Generated exclusively from GOES observations for a few hours every 8 April 1995-2023 and averaged.

Favored Mexico and Texas

While everyone in North America will see the partial phases through solar eclipse glasses, only those within the 115-mile-wide path of the moon’s shadow will enjoy a brief totality. This will last up to 4 minutes and 26 seconds in Mexico and Texas, reduced by about a minute as the path of totality tracks southwest to northeast across the US and Canada. “

Mexico looks likely to have the best cloud-free views and also the point with the largest view of totality,” according to cloud science group CIMSS. There is about a 20% chance of clouds in Mexico, and an 80% chance in Canada. In the US, Texas is the most favorable location, with about a 40% chance of cloud. So even in Mexico and Texas, there’s about a significant chance we’ll have some kind of cloud cover on April 8th.

CIMMS also makes available an interactive time-lapse style page showing a satellite image of the path for each April 8 since 1979.

Important Disclaimer

There’s a tried and true saying among eclipse chasers: “The climate is what you expect. weather is what you get.” There is a disclaimer to this effect that accompanies these new cloud maps. “This is not a real forecast and previous clear or cloudy skies do not guarantee anything for April 8, 2024,” the CIMSS website states. He has this advice for anyone looking for clear skies on April 8:

• Start checking local weather forecasts on April 6, which will then start to be accurate.
• Remember that the “eclipse cooling” effect of the sun being blocked by the moon can cause the number of certain types of clouds.
• Follow local meteorologists along the way on TV—they’ll pay attention to cloud cover, good open spots to see it, and what the local plans are.

Path of Wholeness

On April 8 the path of totality will cross parts of five states in Mexico (Sinaloa, Nayarit, Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua), 15 US states (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio , Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine) and six Canadian provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland).

The moon will be close enough to Earth to appear 5.6% larger than the sun, casting a shadow that will move across the planet at about 1,500 mph. The set will move across North America—Mexico, the US and Canada—in 100 minutes, crossing six time zones.

For the latest on all aspects of the April 8th total solar eclipse in North America, check out my main stream for new articles every day.

I wish you clear skies and open eyes.