Monday’s eclipse will be the most out-of-this world show of the year — but for some, the big event will be cancelled because of clouds.
Weather forecasters are predicting overcast skies in some spots along the 2024 total eclipse’s path, which will prevent sky-gazers from seeing the big moment when the moon crosses paths with the sun, even though the sky will still turn dark as night.
Fortunately for New Yorkers, a Fox Forecast Center projection says that the places with the highest chance of clouds were in the southern and central U.S. — while most of the Northeast and New England will have a clear view of the cellistial show.
However, a few areas around the Great Lakes, including the Buffalo region and other parts of Western New York, are expecting buzzkiller clouds.
Meanwhile, in Manhattan, skies will likely stay clear, making the Big Apple a great option for taking in the spectacle.
The maximum cloud coverage Monday in Central Park will be 46%, with temperatures reaching a high of 63 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a forecast from the National Weather Service.
While the Big Apple is not in the eclipse’s path of totality, those looking to witness a partial solar eclipse should be outside and ready with solar eclipse glasses starting at 2:10 p.m.
The eclipse will cover large swaths of Western and Upstate New York between 2 and 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
For those living in the path of totality, in areas including Jamestown, Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, Syracuse, Water Town and Lake Placid, the full eclipse will take place between approximately 3:20 and 3:30 p.m., though the partial eclipse will likely begin just after 2 p.m.
As the eclipse moves northeast, cloud coverage will be less in areas like Caribou, Maine, one of the last places in America to view the eclipse before it heads to Canada.
In the Midwest, cloud cover will likely be less around Paducah, Kentucky, and near St. Louis, but the skies will be more concentrated with clouds closer to the Great Lakes region, including Cleveland.
Many of the popular solar eclipse viewing spots, including San Antonio and Dallas, were also forecasted to have clouds on April 8.
While some areas may be cloudy, those looking to view the eclipse may still be able to see some of it despite the haze.
Those on the lookout for the eclipse will still need specialized protective glasses even if the sun is shrouded in clouds.
