SPOKANE, Wash. — The "Great American Eclipse" is this Monday, April 8th. Totality will extend from Texas to Maine for the U.S. Here in Spokane and the Northwest, we will only get about a 25% partial solar eclipse. Still, avid star gazers and even casual astronomy fans will want to view the eclipse no matter what percentage we get, so here's what the forecast will be like.
The partial eclipse will last from 10:40am to 12:32pm on Monday in Spokane. The forecast is expected to be largely sunny. The exact forecast is for approximately 30% cloud coverage, so we may have to dodge a few clouds, but it's a two-hour window to see some of the eclipse locally.
Meanwhile, for those traveling to the path of totality, the forecast is far more important. As the duration of the eclipse will only last for just over four minutes. The latest forecast is fairly uncertain for those in Texas, especially those further south near the Mexico border. There is even a threat for severe thunderstorms around Dallas, though that is expected later in the day compared to the eclipse which will be during the 1 p.m. hour.
Those looking to see the eclipse again in Carbondale, Illinois (which was in the path of the 2017 eclipse) have an improving forecast through the weekend. KREM 2 Meteorologist Thomas Patrick saw the eclipse in Carbondale and mentioned that the afternoon clouds blocked a majority of the eclipse that day except for the final seconds.
Those in New England look to have the clearest skies to view the eclipse. Cities between Burlington, Vermont to Ashland, Maine have been forecasting a clear viewing for the eclipse all this week and there's been no change to the forecast whatsoever!
Good luck and happy eclipse viewing!
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