Clouds Over Most of U.S. Will Affect Tonight's Total Lunar Eclipse Watching

Most regions in the United States will have a chance to witness the total lunar eclipse tonight. However, many areas might encounter cloudy conditions, which could obstruct their view. It is expected that roughly 75% of the country will catch at least intermittent glimpses of the moon as it passes through Earth’s shadow. The eclipse will commence at 2:26 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday morning, equating to 11:26 p.m. Thursday on the Pacific coast, or 0626 GMT. This phase of totality will persist for 66 minutes.

The lower Great Lakes, the Ohio Valley, the Central Plains, and Texas are forecasted to experience the best weather conducive for observing the eclipse tonight. These areas are likely to have clear skies, offering an excellent opportunity to enjoy the celestial event.

Conversely, a major weather system emerging from the Northern and Central Rockies is predicted to produce a wide band of clouds and precipitation. This system will likely encompass regions from Montana down to eastern Arizona and western New Mexico, effectively obscuring views of the eclipse in these areas.

Eclipse viewers along the Pacific coastline, stretching from Washington to central California, may have difficulties due to a marine layer of low-lying clouds. Similarly, this low cloud cover is expected to obstruct views along the Gulf Coast areas, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and parts of South Florida.

Nevertheless, a brief drive inland, away from these coastal areas, may offer a clearer view of the skies free from oceanic cloud cover.

Along the I-95 corridor from the Virginia Capes extending northeast to Downeast Maine, an offshore weather system is predicted to bring in northeast winds. This flow might usher in low clouds from the Atlantic, likely obscuring the eclipse for major cities such as Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.

Again, a short inland trip to the west and north might lead to clearer skies, away from the oceanic cloud cover.

We’ve created a U.S. map highlighting regions with the most favorable and unfavorable sky conditions for eclipse viewing. It’s categorized into three sections: Good, with clear to partly cloudy skies (up to 30% cloud cover); Fair, with scattered to broken cloud cover (30% to 70%); and Poor, with 70% cloud cover or greater, potentially leading to complete obstruction of the eclipse, except for some rare, brief glimpses, reminiscent of moments poet Alfred Noyes might have mused about.”