A once-in-a-lifetime event: the path of a total solar eclipse will pass through parts of San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8.
Ideally, skies would be clear and we would have a straightforward eclipse-viewing experience: watching the gradual transition as the moon passes in front of the sun and eventually blocking out the sun completely. Darkness would fall in the path of totality, and the sun’s white corona would be visible.
Unfortunately, a completely clear view of the eclipse is not in the forecast for San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country. However, you will still be able to view parts of - and experience - the solar eclipse.
This is what you need to know:
KEY POINTS:
- Morning low clouds with areas of drizzle
- Mostly cloudy with breaks in the low clouds to partially view eclipse near totality (around 1:30 p.m.).
- Your viewing experience will depend greatly on how much clouds break up overhead
- If in the path of totality, sky will quickly turn dark.
- After the eclipse, a few storms are possible in the late Monday afternoon and evening
- *IF* storms develop, they could be strong and have the potential for hail
Here’s a look at some possible scenarios, depending on the types of clouds you may see:
HIGH-LEVEL CLOUDS (CIRRUS CLOUDS)
You will still be able to see some of the transition through high-level clouds. It just depends on how thin or thick that cloud layer will be. If you’re in the path of totality, darkness would still fall dramatically for the duration of totality. You’ll notice a temperature drop, too.
THICK, LOW CLOUDS
If overcast, the entire eclipse transition experience would be hidden. Those outside of the path of totality may not notice much other than the sky getting a little dimmer.
The good news? Those along the path of totality would still experience complete darkness - like the middle of the night. And darkness would fall quicker than any sunset you’ve ever experienced. There would also still be a small temperature drop over the course of the eclipse. Still, a completely overcast sky is the worst-case scenario on eclipse day.
A better scenario, and one that is possible, would be if the morning cloud cover can break up a bit by the early afternoon, we could catch a glimpse of the eclipse through the passing clouds.
STORMS POSSIBLE AFTER ECLIPSE
Late in the afternoon and early evening, a few storms are possible. Any storms that develop will have the potential to become severe, possibly containing hail. We encourage anyone who is camping or traveling Monday evening to pay very close attention to the weather, and to have a plan for shelter just in case. We will keep you posted!
Here’s a list of some eclipse articles on KSAT:
Read more from the meteorologists on the Whatever the Weather page
Download KSAT’s weather app for customized, accurate forecasts in San Antonio, South Texas or wherever you are
Find the latest forecasts, radar and alerts on the KSAT Weather Authority page
