Weather Not an Issue for Most Viewing Tonight's Eclipse
Weather conditions will cooperate for most Americans wishing to catch a glimpse of tonight's total lunar eclipse.
However, clouds and precipitation found mainly over the nation's eastern corners will inhibit viewing there.
The moon will turn blood red for a time late tonight across most of North America, though it will be visible longest and be brightest along the West Coast, peaking at 6:32 a.m. Pacific time before moonset.
In this continent, only Alaska and scarcely-populated parts of northern Canada will be able to view the entire event, weather permitting.
Clear skies, thanks to a massive area of high pressure, will extend across most areas from the Mississippi River to the West Coast overnight. The exception will be across southern Texas, where clouds and some rain will be ongoing.
Because of the weather, most in the Mountain and Pacific time zones will be able to witness the event through totality, the period in which the eclipse is total and thus the moon is its brightest hue of red.
This map produced by NASA shows where tonight's lunar eclipse will be partially (blue shading) and totally visible across the globe. (Credit: Fred Espenak, NASA GSFC)
Though only the beginning of the eclipse will be visible along the East Coast before moonset, clouds will be thick over the Southeast with showers dampening parts of Florida.
Likewise, clouds will inhibit viewing over the Northeast with lake-effect snow showers and flurries over parts of interior areas.
Even though the entire event will be visible over Alaska, a storm system complete with clouds and snow crossing the state will restrict viewing. Is it likely that only residents along the West Coast and in the Aleutians will be able to see the eclipse.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes behind the Earth in such a way that blocks the sun's rays from striking the moon, giving it a reddish hue.
The next total lunar eclipse visible in North America will be on Jan. 31, 2018. A partial eclipse will be visible to most of the continent less than a year from now on Nov. 28, 2012.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 100° | Smyrna, TN |
| Low | 15° | Sunset Crater, AZ |
| Precip | 3.99" | Wadena, MN |
WeatherWhys®
Hail is much more common during the months of May and June compared to July and August. The main reason is the fact that the freezing level is usually higher during July and August as pockets of cold air in the upper atmosphere are less common as the jet stream weakens and retreats farther north.
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