- Monday is the total solar eclipse in the U.S.
- The weather forecast for the eclipse is now coming into view.
- Parts of the southern and central U.S. may see clouds and rain.
- The East Coast may see some of the nicest weather in the country.
- Parts of California and the Great Basin may also have good viewing conditions.
Monday’s total solar eclipse forecast is coming into focus, and it could include wet weather for parts of the central and southern United States.
When it will occur and how long it will last: This will happen on Monday. From the time the moon first begins blocking part of the sun to when it’s finished blocking the sun ranges from about 1 hour and 40 minutes in the Pacific Northwest to about 2 hours and 40 minutes near the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. It’s the first total solar eclipse viewable over the mainland U.S. since Aug. 21, 2017.
Where you can see it: A 115-mile-wide strip covering parts of 15 states from Texas to northern Maine – called the path of totality – is where you can see the total eclipse. The moon will completely cover the sun for about three to four minutes during the event’s peak.
The rest of the Lower 48 states, as well as Canada, Mexico, Central America, Cuba, Hispaniola and Bermuda, will be able to see a partial eclipse.
(Further beef up your forecast with our detailed, hour-by-hour breakdown for the next 8 days – only available on our Premium Pro experience.)
The path of totality, and the percentage of the sun masked by the moon at the peak of the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse.
(Data: NASA)
Where rain, snow is forecast: Parts of the western Gulf Coast and Deep South have the highest chance of rain Monday. That includes parts of eastern Texas into Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a chance of severe storms in parts of these areas. However, the majority of that threat will probably be after the eclipse.
Some light rain or showers are expected from the Northern Plains to the northern Great Lakes. Snow showers may dot parts of the Rockies and light rain is expected in parts of western Washington state.
(For even more granular weather data tracking in your area, view your 15-minute details forecast in our Premium Pro experience.)
Monday’s Forecast Rain, Snow And Early Afternoon Cloud Cover
(The path of totality, where the moon will completely block the sun for three to four minutes, is shown by the dark swath from Texas to northern Maine. Early afternoon cloud cover is shown by the faint gray contours.)
Cloud forecast: Parts of the Eastern Seaboard, from Maine to the Carolinas, may have less cloud cover Monday. The portion of the path of totality in northern New England could have some of the best weather in the country for viewing.
And there may be parts of the Midwest and central Plains that could have a decent chance of viewing the eclipse, though exactly where remains a bit uncertain.
Much of California and the Great Basin is also expected to be relatively cloud-free.
The rest of the country may have to contend with at least some cloud cover Monday afternoon, including where the path of totality will begin in Texas.
Cloud Cover Forecast
(The cloud contours are from the ECMWF forecast model. The percent cloud cover city forecasts are from The Weather Channel for early Monday afternoon.)
After Monday, the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the Lower 48 states won’t be until Aug. 23, 2044.
MORE ECLIPSE COVERAGE ON WEATHER.COM
- What You Need For The Best Viewing Experience
- 4 Ways Weather Could Change During This April’s Total Solar Eclipse
- What Other Phenomena Will Accompany The Eclipse
Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. His lifelong love of meteorology began with a close encounter with a tornado as a child in Wisconsin. He studied physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, then completed his Master’s degree working with dual-polarization radar and lightning data at Colorado State University. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on X (formerly Twitter), Threads, Facebook and Bluesky.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives.
