The sky was dark and the sun was shining for a few minutes in the US
The Last Moment of a Total Solar Eclipse: A Weather Forecast for the U.S. early April through July 31st, 2044, with the NWS
The NWS warns that the forecast can still change, even though it will issue a final weather update at noon.
It is also warning that severe weather and flash flooding could develop around and after the time of totality in parts of Texas into south Oklahoma, southwest Arkansas and west Louisiana, bringing possible tornadoes, large hail and severe wind gusts.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said Monday morning that clouds could impede viewing from Texas into southern Arkansas, as well as across Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania and New York, with a 20-30% chance of rain in those areas.
Several states across the path of the eclipse have declared states of emergency to get more resources to deal with the increased traffic and visitors.
There is much anticipation and preparation heading into the day, as people have made travel plans, organized viewing parties, broken out their red and green gear and generally gotten ready to make the most of a brief moment of daytime darkness.
Totality will start in the U.S. and last for about an hour, lasting for several minutes in each location.
The totality of the eclipse was seen in parts of 15 states. It continued from there into Canada, exiting shortly after 5:15 p.m. — and marking the last glimpse of a total solar eclipse that the contiguous U.S. will see until August 2044.
After countless road trips, hotel bookings, glasses purchases and fingers crossed for good weather, the day millions of Americans have been waiting for is finally here.
A Rare Solar Eclipse Darkened Skies and Dazzled Viewers across the U.S. During the 2010 Total Eclipse in Newport, Maine
It was visible on the Mexico’s Pacific Coast at 11 a.m. before moving into the state of Texas at 1:30 p.m.
It took several hours for it to reach the north and bring daytime darkness to parts of the path of totality.
The last US city in the path of the eclipse is in Maine, and it spent two years planning its celebrations. A museum official told NPR the city was expecting 100,000 visitors, which would nearly double the population.
In Vermont — which was bracing for some 160,000 visitors — municipal garages in Burlington were full by 11 a.m. ET, more than four hours ahead of totality. Newport mayor Linda Joy Sullivan told Vermont Edition that visitors were coming from all over the world, including in 90 private planes.
Cleveland dispatched traffic officers across the city to facilitate movement on the roads, flooded with cars both for the eclipse and the Cleveland Guardians’ home opener.
Many viewers gathered at parks, science centers, schools and other community centers to view the totality. They could be seen craning their necks and heard clapping and cheering as the sky darkened.
Forecasters have spent days trying to figure out how the weather in Texas and other places might affect the total eclipse viewing experience.
Source: A rare solar eclipse darkened skies and dazzled viewers [across the U.S.](https://npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2024/04/08/1243386496/a-rare-solar-eclipse-darkened-skies-and-dazzled-viewers-across-the-u-s)
Weather forecasts and crowd formation in Dallas, a key destination for eclipse-themed events in the year 2001-2002 Tex-Texas boom
The forecast saw some people pivot to backup plans — like Monica and Prashant Joshi and their son Ved, of New Jersey, who rebooked their flights from Dallas to Vermont last week.
North and Central Texas, which was home to some of the longest total times in the country, was expected to draw up to a million travelers, and a sizable boom in business. Clouds didn’t stop crowds from forming — and buying eclipse-themed merchandise — in Dallas.
