Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
A week after deadly Texas flooding, hope fades but resilience grows. Chevron right
Recovery teams, displaced residents in Texas face brutal heat. Chevron right

Columbus, OH

88°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

88°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars
2
Flash Flood Warning

News / Weather News

Which US regions are likely to offer clear skies when the eclipse occurs?

By Michael Kuhne, AccuWeather staff writer

Copied

August weather may bring clear skies to millions of people gathered across the country as the moon's shadow crosses the continent during the upcoming eclipse.

Aug. 21 marks the first total solar eclipse visible from the continental United States in nearly four decades. The path of totality will occur along a 68-mile-wide stretch traversing 2,500 miles across the continent from Oregon to South Carolina.

"Overall, the chances of clear skies increase the farther west you are across the country," AccuWeather Meteorologist Dave Samuhel said.

Historical chance of no clouds -- solar eclipse

This is simply due to the fact that the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico are closer in proximity to the eastern third of the country, which brings more rain, Samuhel said, citing his recent post on AccuWeather's astronomy blog.

Nearly 12 million people live in the path of totality, and many more are expected to travel to see the celestial event.

Eclipse from ISS

The International Space Station (ISS) was in position to view the umbral (ground) shadow cast by the moon as it moved between Earth and the sun during a solar eclipse on March 29, 2006. This astronaut image captures the umbral shadow across southern Turkey, northern Cyprus and the Mediterranean Sea. (Photo/NASA)

NASA

Roughly two-thirds of the entire U.S. population live within a day's drive from the path, according to Space.com.

The chances for clear skies in the western U.S. are greater for those viewing the event east of the Cascades in Oregon and away from the coast, Samuhel added, stating that "low clouds are likely to be a problem, especially along the immediate Pacific Coast."

RELATED:

Don’t have eclipse glasses? Make a pinhole projector to view the Great American Eclipse
The 2017 solar eclipse may prove the sun is bigger than we think
How to safely view the total solar eclipse
Oregon officials fear unprepared solar eclipse visitors could lead to wildfire disaster

For those closer to the southeastern portion of the path, clouds are more likely, Samuhel said.

"This is especially true given the timing of the eclipse in the Southeast," he added. "The eclipse will occur after noon in the Southeast, where building clouds and showers and thunderstorms are often found on August afternoons."

In the Southeast, tropical storms and hurricanes can also bring widespread areas of clouds.

However, Samuhel said it is important to note that no matter where people are viewing the eclipse, clouds could occur nearly anywhere.

"By Aug. 21, we start to see the first Pacific cold fronts of the season," he said. "These will tend to just be an issue for the Northwest, Oregon and Idaho."

In mountainous areas, clouds are more likely to develop as the day progresses, Samuhel said.

"The mountains in Oregon would be a fine place to see the eclipse, as many more clouds would likely be in lower elevations near the Pacific."

Clouds will be more likely to build during the afternoon hours after the eclipse has passed, which makes it more likely for clear skies during the event, he added.

"Elsewhere, building clouds over the mountains will likely make them cloudier than nearby lower elevations," he said.

In addition, the Plains are always under a threat for thunderstorm clusters during the month of August.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

A week after deadly Texas flooding, hope fades but resilience grows

Jul. 10, 2025
Severe Weather

Rounds of severe storms to rattle, drench central US

Jul. 10, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Weather News

The faces of the Texas flooding tragedy

Jul. 7, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather Forecasts

Texas Hill Country recovery, cleanup teams to face brutal July weather

3 hours ago

Weather News

State inspection before floods found Camp Mystic had emergency plan

8 hours ago

Weather News

Deadly flash flooding devastates wildfire-scarred New Mexico town

8 hours ago

Astronomy

1st full moon of summer to rise Thursday night

1 day ago

Weather News

Most Texas flood victims face devastation without flood insurance

5 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Health

How can families handle new anxieties around summer camp?

2 hours ago

AccuWeather Ready

Floodwater rising in your house? Do this

2 days ago

Weather News

Orcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why?

2 hours ago

Weather News

Earthquake swarm detected at Mount Rainier, biggest since 2009

7 hours ago

Weather News

The US has a plan to breed millions of flies and drop them from planes

2 hours ago

AccuWeather Weather News Which US regions are likely to offer clear skies when the eclipse occurs?
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...