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Millions of people in the United States will be looking up on April 8th to view the solar eclipse. And thousands of totality tourists will be flying or road tripping to locations they believe will provide them with clear and cloudless skies.

The Dragon Eclipse is just a few days away!

2024 Dragon Eclipse

Approximately 500 cities across 13 states are on the eclipse's path of totality, which travels Northeasterly across the US.

The path of totality is that narrow band of the country that will be directly in the moon's shadow as it crosses the sun. It is estimated to be 115 miles wide.

Some of those major cities include:

•  Dallas and San Antonio, Texas
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio
• Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, New York
• Erie, Pennsylvania

According to NASA the edges of Tennessee and Michigan are also expected to experience the eclipse. And the eclipse's path will end before it gets to the maritime provinces of Canada.

Many areas not directly in the 115-mile-wide path of totality may still get an eclipse experience. 

For instance, Houston, Texas is 239 miles South of Dallas. And it is 197 miles East of San Antonio. Experts estimate that Houstonians will experience 92% of the eclipse. In other words, the shadow will not completely block the sun. It will appear as a partial eclipse.

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Totality Tourists Watching the Weather

Millions of Americans are excited about the solar eclipse. Most of the US will have a chance to view a partial eclipse where the moon shadows a part of the sun. 

But the totality tourists who are traveling to visit the narrow path of totality for the best views are concerned that clouds may ruin their plans.

According to USA Today, Astrophysicist Antonella Fruscione is constantly monitoring  the weather forecast.

Fruscione and 18 people have been planning this event since the friends caught the solar eclipse together in Idaho in 2017. The group is New England-based but has members coming in from Europe.

They are all scheduled to gather in San Antonio, Texas which is expected to be a prime viewing location. 

Flights and lodging are booked, but it all depends on the weather.

Totality or Bust

Recent forecasts claim that it may be cloudy in San Antonio, along with many locations along the path of totality.

Forecasts are more optimistic about the northern part of the path. 

The Weather Prediction Center is showing daily Eclipse weather updates. “Totality or bust, check the forecast and adjust!”

If the weather in Texas looks too bad Fruscione's group might lose money on their flights and hotels, but will make the drive to Vermont, which currently has a more favorable weather outlook. 

There’s still good news where eclipses and clouds are concerned.  In the Feb. 12  journal "Communications Earth & Environment"  a research article claims that  “Clouds dissipate quickly during solar eclipses as the land surface cools.” 

Those shallow cumulus clouds can be expected to vanish during a solar eclipse. And only 15% of the sun needs to be obscured by the moon before the clouds disappear.

Remember, you need to wear eclipse safety glasses to protect your eyes during the entire event.

The next total solar eclipse in North America won't be until 2044. So don’t forget to look up on April 8.