With the start of a rainy and stormy April in the Chicago area, many may be wondering what a rainy or cloudy forecast would mean for the upcoming 2024 solar eclipse?
Will it still be visible?
The answer is yes, but probably not many would expect it.
Here’s what you need to know:
What happens if it rains?
If it rains during Monday’s total solar eclipse, the rare celestial event might be slightly visible but will be “not very impressive,” according to NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman.
“The sky may darken and get a little darker, but that will be it,” Roman said.
What if it’s cloudy during the solar eclipse?
If the rain stops and only clouds remain, the visibility of the eclipse could depend on the type of clouds that appear.
“If you have high, thin clouds, it may block the view slightly but will still allow you to see a lot of the eclipse,” Roman said. “If you have low, thick clouds, like what we can have, they will always appear darker for the duration of the eclipse, it just won’t be as dramatic as if it were one sunny day and it would become completely dark the next second. The sky will just darken or get a little darker.”
When a solar eclipse occurs, some clouds tend to disappear.
Scientists from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute recently discovered that shallow cumulus clouds dissipate in large numbers when only 15% of the sun is covered. This is because the Earth’s surface cools when sunlight is blocked, reducing the rising currents of warm air that usually emanate. These updrafts are necessary to form cumulus clouds because they carry water vapor as they rise to colder altitudes.
What is the current forecast for the Chicago area?
According to Roman, early forecasts on Tuesday indicated that the April 8 eclipse could see rain and thick clouds.
It should be noted, however, that forecasts this far out are not as reliable and conditions could still change before the event.
What time is the solar eclipse?
According to NASA scientists, the eclipse will occur on Monday afternoon, April 8, across the entire North American continent, with the zone of totality affecting areas of southern Illinois and central Indiana. .
During a total solar eclipse, the new moon crosses the path of the sun in the sky, partially blocking then almost completely the view of the sun.
In Carbondale, Illinois, the April 8 partial eclipse will begin around 12:42 p.m. During this time, special glasses will be required to view the eclipse, although there are other ways to view the impact of the moon on the sunlight reaching the Earth. .
Around 1:59 p.m., “totality” will begin in Carbondale, and during this time, stargazers will be able to watch the eclipse unaided, with dark skies and the famous flaming “crown” at the edges of the moon. .
This period will not last very long, since totality is expected to end around 2:03 p.m., according to NASA scientists.
The partial eclipse will continue for another hour and end around 3:18 p.m.
Here’s a city-by-city breakdown for those in the Chicago area and on the path to totality in Illinois.
Where is the “path to totality”?
The “path of totality” of the eclipse will begin in southwest Texas and move northeast.
The path of totality includes the southern tip of Illinois, central and southern Indiana, and Indianapolis. From there it will pass through Cleveland, Ohio; Buffalo, New York and Maine.
The map below from the Adler Planetarium shows what the eclipse will look like in Illinois, with Carbondale, Mount Vernon, Metropolis and Mount Carmel among the southern Illinois towns in the path of totality.
Will schools be closed because of the solar eclipse?
Dozens of schools across Illinois have announced plans to close due to the April 8 total solar eclipse.
According to the Illinois State Board of Education, more than 70 school districts across the state have registered a “no-show” day on April 8.
The closures come as many cities, especially those on the path to totality, prepare to deal with unprecedented traffic and crowds. Many also close to offer families the chance to attend together what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The state school board said that while many will not have children in school, it is not encouraging schools to use online learning days for the event.
“While online learning is a valid option for educational continuity, districts have been advised against preemptively declaring such days in anticipation of the solar eclipse,” the board told NBC Chicago in a press release. “The purpose of online learning days is to replace emergency closure days. Foreseeable increases in traffic or other anticipated challenges preceding the solar eclipse do not meet the emergency criteria justifying a day of e-learning. “online learning.”
See the full list here.
NBC Chicago
