Here’s how much of the eclipse you’ll be able to see from Bellingham, best times to watch
With its path of totality hitting the U.S. in the northeast before heading southwest, Bellingham won’t see a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. But that doesn’t mean the eclipse won’t be visible from northwestern Washington. 99% of the country will be able to see the shadow cast by the moon.
Here’s when it will be visible in Bellingham and how much of it you’ll be able to see.
When can you see the eclipse from Bellingham?
The best time to see the eclipse in Bellingham is just before noon on April 8. According to NASA, the eclipse will come into view from Bellingham at 10:41 a.m, although it will only be barely visible at first. It will peak just after 11:30, and remain visible until 12:21.
How much of the eclipse will be visible?
18.4% of the sun’s area will be blocked at the peak of the eclipse in Bellingham, according to NASA.
The eclipse’s magnitude – the percentage of the sun’s width blocked by the moon – will be 29.4 percent at the peak, according to timeanddate.com.
What about the weather?
The Weather Channel projects a high of 54-degrees on Monday with “considerable cloudiness” and a 24% chance of rain during the day. The National Weather Service’s report is almost identical.
The hourly forecast is more encouraging, with a 9% chance of rain slated for noon and the worst of the clouds set for later in the day.
What if you want a better view?
As a general rule, more of the eclipse will be visible to the southeast of Bellingham. Spokane will see nearly 27% of the sun covered, and Kennewick will see just over 26%. If you want a better view of the eclipse, you might be out of luck unless you take a flight – Bellingham is nearly 2,000 miles from the closest cities on the path of totality.
