Will weather cooperate for the solar eclipse? Depends on where you are
Jakkar AimerySolar eclipse watchers eager to see the rare event are keeping their fingers crossed about the one element they can't control: the weather.
According to the National Weather Service, most of southeast Michigan will experience a partial eclipse, but parts of Erie and Bedford Township, including Luna Pier in southeastern Monroe County, will experience totality between 3:12 and 3:13 p.m. on April 8.
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And the weather could cooperate in Monroe County. Luna Pier is expected to have partly sunny skies the day of the eclipse with a high of 69 degrees and a 2% chance of rain, according to AccuWeather's forecast as of Monday. Bedford Township also is supposed to have partly sunny skies with a high of 70 degrees.
Businesses and destinations in Monroe County and Ohio are preparing for increased visitors on April 8, so this could be good news to them.
El Nino conditions will be present during the solar eclipse, according to the National Weather Service. Historical weather records show April 8 tends to be on the cloudy side for southeast lower Michigan.
Some local astronomy enthusiasts are planning to travel to Texas for the eclipse, but the weather could be worse there on April 8. AccuWeather on Monday was forecasting a strong chance of thunderstorms in San Antonio that morning.
Indianapolis, meanwhile, which also is in the path of totality, is forecast to have partly cloudy skies with a high of 70 degrees, according to AccuWeather.
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth at just the right moment. Sometimes, the moon only blocks part of the sun’s light, which is called a partial solar eclipse. Other times, the moon blocks all of the sun’s light, which is called a total solar eclipse. As the moon blocks the sun’s light, it casts a shadow on part of the Earth.