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ECLIPSE CAST: Will clouds ruin the total solar eclipse?

Monday will start off cloudy and wet but will be drier and clearing out later in the day.

By: Katie McGraw

Posted at 12:25 PM, Apr 07, 2024

and last updated 2024-04-08 08:49:29-04

The countdown is really on now! We are less than 12 hours out from the total solar eclipse! Reminder: the full eclipse lasts for two and a half hours! The moon will start to cover the sun around 2 p.m. and continue to eclipse the sun until we reach totality around 3:15 p.m. The eclipse will end around 4:30 pm.

Watch more from the News 5 Weather Team about the eclipse below:

For Cleveland, totality lasts for three minutes and 50 seconds from 3:13 pm to 3:17 pm. Totality will be slightly less in Mansfield at three minutes and 17 seconds and two minutes and 48 seconds in Akron. Not everyone is included in the path of totality in our viewing area, including Canton and New Philadelphia. You will have to wear your safety glasses the entire time except when we are in totality.

High pressure has moved east away from NEO, which is why we have had gorgeous clear skies this weekend. An area of low pressure moved from the west toward the Great Lakes Sunday evening, and it will lift a warm front through our region on Monday. This will help boost our temperatures for eclipse day! Plan for temps in the 60s tomorrow. However, this system is also bringing morning rain and more clouds to start the day. This rain does not last all day, though! It is already (7 am Monday) ending in our western communities. Rain will gradually come to an end for everyone by lunchtime.

Much of the area looks dry by late morning and early afternoon. Clouds are expected to thin around the same time. I think there is a good chance clouds will thin enough for many of us during the afternoon. High clouds will certainly be possible during the afternoon/totality, and it looks like the best viewing will be west of Cleveland. However, the high clouds should not be too thick so we can still see the eclipse.

The rest of Monday looks dry, so the weather should not impact traveling, but keep in mind we are expecting traffic headaches and delays tomorrow across all of Northern Ohio.