Photo: ANGELA WEISS / AFP / Getty Images
As tens of millions of people gather across the country to watch the total solar eclipse on Monday (April 8), the weather may not cooperate. Fifteen states sit on the path of totality, in which viewers will see the moon fully block out the sun for several minutes, while 49 states will be able to see a partial eclipse.
The total solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean and move northeast before reaching Mexico's Pacific coast around 11:07 a.m. PT. It will then continue on its path, crossing into Texas around noon central time. It will then move across 15 states before it reaches Maine at 2:22 p.m. ET.
The eclipse will end in the United States by 4:40 p.m. ET.
Unfortunately, not everybody in the path of totality will have prime viewing weather for the once-in-a-lifetime event. Severe storms are in the forecast for parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, which could completely wash out any viewing parties that are planned.
"Southern Texas will likely wake up to fair conditions this morning but will likely followed by a rapid untimely increase of clouds this morning into the afternoon prior to the arrival of the solar eclipse," the National Weather Service said.
Other parts of the midwest could also see cloud cover that could hamper viewing conditions across parts of Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Kansas. There is rain in the forecast across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, though the storms may hold off until after the eclipse ends.
The best viewing conditions for the eclipse are in New England, where clear skies are in the forecast.