Eclipse 2024: What's the likelihood of clear skies in Northern Vermont on April 8?

Northern Vermont will soon be flooded with thousands of tourists eager to witness a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse on April 8.

But despite being one of 13 states in the path of totality, and therefore a prime viewing location for East Coast residents, Vermont is notorious for its cloudy April skies.

As Vermonters and tourists alike finalize plans for where they are going to gather on April 8, the question is – how visible will the eclipse be?

The answer, although not yet set in stone, may come as a disappointment to the most fervent eclipsophiles in the Green Mountain State.

What's the probability of clear skies the day of the eclipse?

For people hoping for an unobstructed view of the eclipse, cloudy weather has the potential to ruin their day.

“If it’s cloudy, you won’t be able to see the shadow of the moon crossing in front of the sun, or the corona of the sun behind the moon’s shadow during the duration of totality,” Green Mountain Club’s eclipse webpage says.

Unfortunately for individuals hunkering down in Vermont, clear skies aren’t likely, according to Lead Meteorologist Maureen Hastings of the National Weather Service (NWS) in South Burlington.

According to NWS Burlington, the average Vermont day in April experiences 60% to 80% cloud coverage, described by Hastings as “mostly cloudy skies.”

“At the very least we’ll experience some cloud coverage” on April 8, Hastings said.

On a more positive note, Vermont skies tend to be the least cloudy during the afternoon, which is when the eclipse will reach totality this year. However, NWS Burlington predicts that between noon and 4 p.m. on April 8, Vermont will only experience mostly clear skies (20% or less cloud coverage) for 10% to 20% of the time.

Temperature is connected to cloud coverage

Temperature can also impact cloud coverage. Based on historical data, 60% of days sporting temperatures between 32℉ and 50℉ experienced full cloud coverage in Vermont. Clear skies, on the other hand, are much more likely to occur when temperatures rest above and below that 18-point margin.

Currently, Burlington is expected to boast a high of 56℉ and a low of 40℉, according to a 10-day weather report from The Weather Channel.

Vermont eclipse chasers should be prepared to “remain mobile and ready to move quickly to another location if clouds move in,” according to nationaleclipse.com.

Hasting pointed out, however, that it’s still too far in advance to say for absolute certainty what the weather will be like during the eclipse. She said meteorologists will have a “better sense” of Vermont’s skies a week before the event and high confidence in their predictions three days in advance.

Regardless of how many clouds are in the sky, the world will temporarily fade to black.

“No matter what, you will experience darkness falling for around three minutes of the afternoon,” the Green Mountain Club wrote.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Chances of Vermont eclipse viewing being obscured by clouds