Eclipse weather forecast: Where might clouds break

by: Nick Bannin, Kristen Currie

Posted: Apr 2, 2024 / 05:45 AM CDT

Updated: Apr 8, 2024 / 12:25 PM CDT

Editor’s Note: This weather blog is no longer being updated.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The day has arrived. The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse is less than two hours away.

The First Warning Weather Team is providing continuous updates today leading up to the eclipse.

Current forecast for April 8

Herewith is the 12:15 p.m. update:

No rain. No sprinkles. No drizzle.

Future Clouds and Radar continue to show more of the sun in the Hill Country with breaks in the clouds for most locations along and east of I-35.

If you’re trying to head out of the area for a better chance of visibility, head to San Saba County where there definitely be more sunshine.

Cloud cover at 2 p.m. shortly after totality

Too much cloud cover from west of San Antonio to Waco

The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex may have fewer clouds, but still plenty. If you’re in the mood for a drive, Little Rock, Arkansas is less than 8 hours away and should see fewer clouds, but still some cloudiness.

National eclipse cloud cover forecast (GRAF Model)

Nationally parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio may get some breaks in the clouds with much clearer skies over northern New England.

Rain potential

Spotty showers, sprinkles or drizzle will be possible in the morning through 1 p.m. with rain chances at just 10% during that time.

As totality wraps up rain and storm chances will rise quickly for the late afternoon and evening with scattered showers and storms expected. If your eclipse viewing plans take you outside, make sure you have a way to get indoors quickly after the event wraps up should a storm develop near you.

Severe weather after totality

The severe weather risk for late Monday afternoon and Monday evening is back to being a Category 2 of 5 or a SLIGHT risk.

Slight risk area expanded to include the entire area

Very large hail is our primary concern. The SLIGHT risk means that the area could see hail up to 2″ in diameter (the size of hen egg) or bigger. The risk area also includes a low chance of isolated tornadoes with the greatest threat of this in Lampasas, Williamson and Milam Counties.

For the post-eclipse forecast, visit our main weather story in the link below:

Timing is everything

The time period that matters? April 8 from roughly noon-3 p.m. marks the entire length of the eclipse, including partial eclipse and totality for Central Texas.

The *most* important time is generally from 1:30 p.m.-1:40 p.m. on April 8.

In Austin, specifically, totality begins just after 1:36 p.m. and ends just before 1:38 p.m.

How specific will we get?

Here’s what we have done and what we continue doing as it pertains to responsibly forecasting for the eclipse:

Schedule of how the weather department is covering the eclipse

Today: Forecasting hour by hour for April 8, but with some uncertainty over the exact cloud cover during the critical five-minute period of concern.

Monday, April 8: Our best forecast possible with several updates during the morning and midday about where any potential cloud cover is setting up and any last-minute adjustments

Texas’ Path of Totality

Here’s a reminder of the eclipse path through Texas. In between the red lines will experience totality. The center line will experience totality the longest.