Solar eclipse 2024: Latest forecast is looking cloudy for some in path of totality

There's just five days to go until the total solar eclipse. Meteorologists continue to refine their cloud cover forecasts for the big day, and as of Wednesday, it's a mix of good and bad news, depending on your location. More about that in a moment.

On Monday afternoon, April 8, a total eclipse of the sun will cross over a dozen states as it traverses from Texas to Maine. Millions of people are expected to travel to see it.

The full total solar eclipse experience will plunge people along a narrow path into darkness midday, but people outside the path of totality can still use eclipse glasses (maybe free eclipse glasses) to see the moon pass in front of the sun — if it's not blocked by clouds.

Meanwhile, those planning to order glasses online may be rapidly running out of time to do so in order to have them delivered on time.

Here's the latest news about the 2024 total solar eclipse on April 8:

Where will skies be clear for the total eclipse?

First, the good news. "Clear skies in the path of totality are most likely in northern New England and upstate New York, and possible in Arkansas and Missouri," the Weather Prediction Center, a branch of the National Weather Service, said Tuesday afternoon.

The weather service forecast office in Burlington, Vermont, also gave this optimistic outlook: "The forecast for Monday is looking spectacular across the North Country (of Vermont)." The weather service calls for "great viewing conditions, as mostly clear skies are now in the forecast around eclipse time."

Texas solar eclipse forecast is troublesome

The forecast worsens the farther south and west you go.

"Cloud cover in the path of totality is most likely in south-central Texas, as well as portions of the Ohio Valley, including Indiana, Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania," the Weather Prediction Center said.

AccuWeather lead long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok said, "Most places in the vicinity of the path of totality will have to deal with some level of clouds, whether high or low."

The weather service forecast office in Dallas-Ft. Worth was slightly more upbeat about the type of clouds that will be in the area on Monday: "The forecast for Eclipse Day continues to be cloudy, however, not all hope is lost!," the weather service said. "Widespread upper cloud cover is likely, but dense low clouds look less likely! There is a medium chance of partial visibility across parts of North and Central Texas."

Will clouds really ruin the eclipse?

Clouds are just part of weather, and as noted in the latest forecast, it's likely that some of the millions of people in the path of totality for April's total eclipse will have to endure overcast skies that will impact the experience.

But determining how clouds would change your view depends on the types of clouds – and which expert you ask. Some advise eclipse watchers to not worry about the skies, others say an overcast sky can ruin the experience.

Before last year's annular solar eclipse, National Weather Service meteorologist Tim Daldrup told Oregon Public Radio that if clouds are in the forecast, you should hope for the "right kind of clouds."

“If we want to see it, we’ll want the higher-level clouds,” Daldrup told OPR. “Those tend to be the more feathery cirrus clouds that can still be seen through. They might obstruct the eclipse but you can still see it.”

Cirrus clouds would be in contrast to some of the more eclipse-unfriendly clouds, such as a thick deck of lower-level stratus or cumulus clouds that would likely completely block the sun.

Order eclipse glasses online now to have them delivered on time

If you're planning to be among the millions of people in the United States who will witness the spectacular sight on April 8, having a proper pair of glasses is paramount: The sun's rays will pose a danger to unprotected retinas gazing skyward.

If you're buying your specs through American Paper Optics, the nation's largest supplier of eclipse glasses, the company makes it easy for you with a countdown at the top of its website for how much longer you have to procrastinate. As of Wednesday morning, customers have little more than two days to make their purchase and take advantage of the company's express shipping across the country.

That's about the same amount of time allotted to Walmart+ online shoppers, as well as Prime members looking for reputable glasses on Amazon.

Many eclipse websites like GreatAmericanEclipse.com and NationalEclipse.com also sell a variety of eyewear products, along with plenty of other gadgets — but double check that estimated delivery date before checking out.

What is the path of totality and why does it matter?

This eclipse is all about totality. But what is it? Basically, totality is when the moon totally blocks the sun during a total solar eclipse.

The path of totality is the area where people on Earth can see the moon completely cover the sun as the moon's shadow falls upon them. In the U.S., the path of totality of this eclipse stretches from Texas to Maine.

To view all of the stages of a total solar eclipse, you must watch it from somewhere along that path of totality, NASA said. Viewers outside this narrow, roughly 115-mile wide path will only see a partial eclipse of the sun.

If you're not in the path of totality, hundreds of millions of people across the nation will still be able to view the partial eclipse, weather permitting: "The best locations for viewing can be the Southwest and the East, especially east of the Appalachians," AccuWeather lead long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok said. "Cities like El Paso, Albuquerque, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York City and Raleigh should all have great views."

"The area from West Texas to southern Arizona should also have favorable viewing conditions," Pastelok added. "These areas will be close to the path of totality with the least amount of cloud cover anticipated."

Is the April 2024 eclipse safe for pets?

An eclipse itself isn't dangerous for domestic animals such as dogs and cats, but experts say it's probably best to not bring pets to experience the April 2024 total solar eclipse.

Experts' biggest concern is not what’s happening in the sky but on the ground as crowds of excited and anxious people gather, said Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

“Rather than the effects of the eclipse, I would be more worried about the excitement and all of the people,” she said.

Dogs especially will take their cues from their owners rather than the celestial event.

Dr. Jerry Klein, chief veterinarian of the American Kennel Club, said dogs that are sensitive, that have anxiety or are strongly affected by storms are likely to pick up on the emotions of people gathering to watch the eclipse

That’s especially true for pet owners who might be traveling a long distance to see the eclipse.

How are schools are handling the total solar eclipse

Local governments and organizations have been bracing for months to accommodate the millions of Americans hoping to witness the eclipse.

Amongst those planning for the special day are schools, especially those in states in the path of totality. A lot of foresight and logistics go into managing excitement around such a rare event, and school districts across the 13 states in the eclipse's path have been prepping their students, parents and educators well in advance.

States and districts are taking different approaches: some will dismiss students early or close entirely, while others will find ways to incorporate the celestial event into the day's curriculum.

Schools in each state are handling the rare event in their own way, but one thing widely agreed upon by both educators and parents alike – the eclipse is a rare and exciting teaching opportunity.

Traffic likely to be snarled

Experts warn the eclipse excitement could create dangerous and busy traffic conditions as people pack into the narrow band of the country with the best view.

"Pack your patience, whether traveling a great distance or locally, people will be out and about to catch a glimpse of the eclipse," said Aixa Diaz, a spokesperson for the American Automobile Association.

Roads could be especially packed at the center of the eclipse's path as Americans who want the best view crowd into cities, towns and remote areas, many without the infrastructure to handle big crowds.

In Ohio's Lorain County, county officials are warning residents to be aware about the increase in visitors, traffic and jammed roads — and possible cell phone signal drops.

“What we could have is crowds here that we’re not used to,” said Dave Freeman, the director of Lorain County Emergency Management. “We’re not set up infrastructure-wise for that, we don’t have the roads.”

How to photograph a solar eclipse with your cell phone

You'll need to have the right solar filter in front of your cellphone camera to protect both your device and eyesight, according to Carly Stocks, a Utah-based astronomical photographer who talked to USA TODAY.

The filter must be made specifically for solar viewing, Stocks said. She also emphasized the need to place a filter that is larger than the lens itself and to keep it on at all times if you're in a location where the eclipse is only partially visible. She recommends purchasing a small 4- by 4-inch sheet of the Thousand Oaks solar filter.

And if you're observing the sky in a location where the total eclipse is visible, you'll have a moment when you can take off the solar lens entirely and capture unfiltered images.

"During totality, you can remove all filters," Stocks told USA TODAY. "If you're looking with the solar glasses and you don't see anything, then it's safe to look at it during that time."

When is the next total solar eclipse visible from the U.S.?

It will be 20 years before there's a chance to witness a total solar eclipse in the United States again.

According to NASA, after the total solar eclipse on April 8, the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous U.S. will be on Aug. 23, 2044.

What time is the solar eclipse on April 8?

The eclipse will begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. CDT and end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT, but the exact time of the eclipse varies by where you are in its path.

Here are the major cities in each state where you can expect to experience totality (note that the included times do not account for when the partial eclipse begins and ends):

• Dallas, Texas: 1:40-1:44 p.m. CDT

• Idabel, Oklahoma: 1:45-1:49 p.m. CDT

• Little Rock, Arkansas: 1:51-1:54 p.m. CDT

• Poplar Bluff, Missouri: 1:56-2:00 p.m. CDT

• Paducah, Kentucky: 2-2:02 p.m. CDT

• Carbondale, Illinois: 1:59-2:03 p.m. CDT

• Evansville, Indiana: 2:02-2:05 p.m. CDT

• Cleveland, Ohio: 3:13-3:17 p.m. EDT

• Erie, Pennsylvania: 3:16-3:20 p.m. EDT

• Buffalo, New York: 3:18-3:22 p.m. EDT

• Burlington, Vermont: 3:26-3:29 p.m. EDT

• Lancaster, New Hampshire: 3:27-3:30 p.m. EDT

• Caribou, Maine: 3:32-3:34 p.m. EDT

NASA will launch 3 rockets into space during the eclipse

NASA is preparing to launch three giant rockets into our atmosphere on the day of the eclipse. The agency is hoping to gather some valuable scientific data about how solar eclipses alter Earth’s upper atmosphere.

NASA is using spacecraft called sounding rockets that are equipped with scientific instruments to take measurements and perform experiments during its sub-orbital flight.

The three rockets will launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia and will reach an intended altitude of 260 miles, NASA said. That's high enough to study disturbances during a total solar eclipse in the ionosphere, a region of Earth’s atmosphere between 55 to 310 miles above the ground.

Scientists hope to collect data on how the sun's sudden disappearance during the eclipse creates disturbances that could interfere with communications here on Earth.

“Understanding the ionosphere and developing models to help us predict disturbances is crucial to making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly," said mission leader Aroh Barjatya, an engineering physicist at Florida's Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Eclipse one of many reasons 'flat Earth' claims are nonsense

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, skeptics continue to believe the Earth is flat, a conspiracy theory experts say dangerously feeds into paranoia and spurs an unhealthy skepticism of all science and credible authorities.

The USA TODAY Fact-Check Team has debunked an array of flat Earth-related claims, including that Antarctica is really an ice wall around a flat Earth and the related conspiracy theory that space – and space travel – isn't real.

Experts say the debunked flat Earth conspiracy theory doesn't slow down when an eclipse happens – even though the event is precisely explained because of scientists' deep understanding of celestial bodies and their orbits.

Speaking about the skeptics, Jeffrey Blevins, a professor of journalism at the University of Cincinnati, said "They’re not just primed to believe the Earth is flat, they’re primed to believe you can’t trust science, academics, the media or government,” he said. “And it might also lead you to see other extremist views as plausible.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Solar eclipse weather forecast warns of clouds: Where's best to view?