Clouds would ruin the April 2024 total eclipse. This map shows how likely that is by city.
Editor's note: An updated cloud forecast for the April 2024 total solar eclipse is in. Read the latest eclipse forecast and news as of Wednesday, April 3.
As the moon passes between the sun and Earth on April 8, observers across North America will have a chance to witness a solar eclipse. Depending on your location, though, clouds might obstruct your view of the celestial spectacle.
Historical cloud-cover data offers a glimpse of viewing conditions based on averages from the past. Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies reviewed nearly 30 years of data to predict cloud conditions during the eclipse. A higher number indicates a greater chance of clear skies.
Map: Predicted cloud cover during solar eclipse
Select your location on the map to see eclipse times, peak sun coverage and likely levels of cloudiness during the eclipse. Lighter dots indicate a greater chance of clear skies. Don't see a map? Click here.
Where are skies likely to be clear for the eclipse?
In the path of totality — where the moon completely covers the sun — Texas has the best chance of clear skies. Brady, Texas, the geographical center of the state, is predicted to have the least cloud cover, based on historical averages.
Parts of Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and upstate New York might not have the same experience, as these areas in the path of totality are more likely to see cloudy skies.
Not all viewers in the U.S. will experience a total solar eclipse, but all states, including parts of Alaska and Hawaii, will experience at least a partial solar eclipse.
Animals and the eclipse: April's total solar eclipse will bring a surreal silence and confuse all sorts of animals
States like Washington and Oregon, while not in the direct line of darkness, have the lowest chances of clear skies overall.
On the other hand, viewers in New Mexico, Arizona, Southern California and West Texas historically have the highest chances of clear skies at the expected time of the partial eclipse.
More: Want to view the solar eclipse? This map lets you check your exact location on the path
However, even those who aren't in the path of totality will notice the sky appear slightly darker than it was before the eclipse. The next total solar eclipse won’t happen in the U.S. for another 20 years, according to NASA.
Solar eclipse totality map
Using the map above, find your location to see when the eclipse begins and ends and how much of the sun will be covered at its peak. Dark red dots along the path of totality represent areas that will experience a total solar eclipse, and all other orange areas will see the moon partially cover the sun. Don't see a map? Click here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cloud forecast for April 2024 eclipse: Map shows cloud data by city