Updated weather forecasts for 2024 solar eclipse are showing good news and bad news.
The good news: In the Big Apple, conditions will likely to better than expected, and New Yorkers will have a good shot of seeing the eclipse.
The bad news: For Texas and parts of the Great Lakes in the path of totality, there’s a risk of missing out entirely because of increasing cloud cover, Fox Weather meteorologist Dax Clark told The Post.
That means hundreds of thousands of eclipse tourists may have paid big bucks to look at overcast skies.
The highly-anticipated eclipse — during which the moon will pass in front of the sun and block it out — will travel from south central Texas through the Ohio Valley and into New England before journeying through northeast Canada.
The event will cast a seconds-long shadow of darkness on some 32 million Americans.
Specialized eclipse glasses are a must-have for viewing regardless of where you take in the spectacle.
Here’s what the weather forecast looks like going into Monday in several major cities along the path of totality.
While earlier forecasts predicted heavy cloud coverage and lousy weather for the Big Apple on Monday, New Yorkers will be in “pretty good shape” to feast their eyes on the historic solar eclipse.
“There’s going to be temperatures in the lower 60s. There will be some clouds, but they will be high clouds though. You can see through those, so that won’t completely obstruct viewing,” Clark said.
Though New York City lies outside of the eclipse’s path of totality, about 91% of the eclipse will be visible from the city around 3:25 p.m.
“Cloud coverage could be around 50%, but again, that’s going to be those high clouds. So we should be in pretty good shape here,” Clark added.
It’ll be tough luck for Texans on Monday, as forecasts show clouds will likely cover the skies during the eclipse before severe storms sweep into the region later that day.
“They are not in the best area,” Clark said.
Forecasts showed Sunday that the region will be nearly entirely covered by clouds when the eclipse is expected to roll through the area, where it will be seen in totality from 1:40 p.m. CDT through 1:44 p.m.
“There’s a pretty good chance that the skies will be 80 to 90 percent covered by clouds and there may even be thunderstorms going on during totality for Austin and nearby parts of Texas.”
Things were looking a little clearer for Buffalo as tourists flocked to some of upstate New York’s major cities ahead of the once-in-a-lifetime occurrence — though the forecast remained up in the air Sunday.
“They’re another one that’s going to be questionable. Right now it looks fairly overcast,” Clark said.
While temperatures will be a crisp 60 degrees, there will likely be about 80% cloud coverage when the eclipse will move into the region.
“It’s possible you won’t be able to see the eclipse from there,” Clark said.
If the clouds disperse, the eclipse will be able to be seen in totality starting at 3:18 p.m.
Things are going to start cloudy in Cincinnati and Columbus, where temperatures will be in the 60s before the skies start to clear.
“I think it’ll be better, there will be breaks in the clouds because they will be on the way out,” Clark said. “It’s not going to be ideal, but I don’t think it’s going to be a completely a wash for anyone in Ohio.”
Moving north, toward Toledo, conditions will be even better to take in the solar spectacle.
“They will have really good viewing. They’ll have partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies.”
Even though it’s on Lake Erie, where clouds will likely converge, Cleveland is in a similar situation, as the forecast shows skies will likely clear up by the time the eclipse moves through the region.
Dallas, like Austin, will likely be slammed with severe storms Monday night — but there’s still a chance residents will be able to see the eclipse during the day.
“There’s a risk of severe weather down there tomorrow, but it will come after the eclipse,” Clark said.
Temperatures should be around 75 degrees Fahrenheit with 60% cloud coverage, though there will be breaks in that coverage, Clark noted.
“The storms should hold off until after four and five o’clock,” he said, adding that the clouds will likely increase during the eclipse due to the impending storm.
There will be clear skies in the path of totality as the eclipse moves through the Crossroads of America around 3:06 p.m.
“Indy looks great. They’re going to be probably one of the best cities in the country in terms of viewing,” Clark said.
Temperatures will likely be around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and partly cloudy.
Similar to Indianapolis, conditions will be optimal for viewing the eclipse in Louisville.
The forecast for Monday shows a high of 74 degrees Fahrenheit with a small chance of showers in the early morning.
Those showers will likely wash away any cloud coverage before the eclipse moves through the region around 3:07 p.m.
Like its fellow Western New York metropolis, Rochester could be looking better for an area within the eclipse’s path of totality.
“For totality, it looks about 80 percent cloud coverage,” Clark said.
“I will say it has been looking better for upstate New York and areas along the Great Lakes,” he added, “But it doesn’t look great.”
Much like other parts of Texas, skies will likely be too cloudy in San Antonio for residents to fully experience the solar eclipse.
The forecast shows a 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms and rain showers — and about 90% cloud coverage,” Clark said.
“It doesn’t look very good,” Clark said.