Will clouds spoil the view for the April 8 eclipse in Jacksonville? The way too early forecast

Gary T. Mills, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
·3 min read

While the April 8 total solar eclipse isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime event, it is rare.

In fact, the next total eclipse that will be viewable from the contiguous United States won’t be available for another 20 years, on Aug. 23, 2044. Even then, its path of totality will stretch across Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota — hundreds of miles northwest from April’s eclipse path from northern Mexico into Texas, the Midwest and East Coast and, finally, southeast Canada before moving out to sea, according to NASA.

So, yes, for many of us, April 8 will be the best chance to see a solar eclipse, even if it’s just a partial eclipse in Northeast Florida. (Do you still need to wear special glasses? Yes.)

But what’s the chance that our skies will be clear, allowing us to see the moon pass in front of the sun, darkening the skies and landscape around us?

Can I view the eclipse in Jacksonville?

Historically, the clearest time of day on April 8 is 12:30 p.m., when the chance of clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy conditions is 66%, according to data from weatherspark.com.

That’s potentially good news for eclipse viewers. That’s because in Jacksonville, the eclipse will begin at 1:47 p.m. and continue to 4:19 p.m. At its peak at 3:05 p.m., about 64% of the sun will be obscured by the moon. (Search eclipse times by ZIP code.)  

What will the weather be like in Jacksonville on April 8?

Many forecasters, including weather.com’s Jonathan Erdman, say at this point, it’s still too early to say exactly what areas will have clear or cloudy skies. On Friday, its forecast for Jacksonville on April 8 includes a mix of sunshine and clouds with a high of 79 degrees and a 13% chance for rain.

The National Weather Service on Friday said the preliminary cloud-cover forecast for Jacksonville on April 8 is 22 percent, according to data shared with The Washington Post, which notes that forecasts may not become reliable until just two or three days before the eclipse.

By comparison, other Jacksonvilles across the U.S. will see the following cloud-cover percentages, according to the preliminary forecast from NWS:

  • Jacksonville, N.C.: 19%

  • Jacksonville, Ark.: 62%

  • Jacksonville, Ill.: 48%

  • Jacksonville, Texas: 61%

  • Jacksonville, Ala.: 48%

  • Jacksonville, Ore.: 46%

Map: Predicted cloud cover during solar eclipse

Select a location on the map below to see eclipse times, peak sun coverage and likely levels of cloudiness during the eclipse, based on previous weather. Lighter dots indicate a greater chance of clear skies. Don't see a map? Click here.

Solar eclipse viewing times: What time is the April 8 solar eclipse in Jacksonville? Find out with your ZIP code

What you should know: A total eclipse is coming April 8. Here's how to view it from Jacksonville.

See the latest weather satellite view of Northeast Florida

See the latest weather radar from Jacksonville

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Solar eclipse 2024: Weather forecast for Jacksonville, FL