Eclipse 2017: Will clouds obscure the total solar eclipse?

Mid-Missourians are now less than a week away from the highly anticipated total solar eclipse of 2017. With each passing day, we are getting a better understanding of what to expect in terms of weather conditions for the celestial event.

Clear skies are optimal and favored for any solar eclipse but, unfortunately not everyone across the country will have optimal viewing conditions. The greatest threat for cloudy conditions exist for those who live in the northeastern portion of the country, due to a digging trough as well as hazy conditions from wildfires that have sparked across Montana and Idaho.

Here in Mid-Missouri, things are shifting in our favor, as an upper-level ridge builds into the region. This ridge, which is typical for summertime, usually leads to less cloud coverage and warmer temperatures. This occurs because high pressure aloft leads to sinking air, which prevents clouds from forming. That’s good news for us here in Mid-Missouri, but there is one wrench in the forecast looking ahead to next Monday.

The northern extent of the upper-level ridge will be near the Missouri-Iowa border, which will open the door for upper-level waves to pass through the ridge. The question becomes: Will a wave bring clouds that will undercut the ridge and obscure our view as we head into Monday?

Weather models are consistently showing the potential for some morning showers along the Nebraska and Iowa border, and that will likely bring some morning and afternoon clouds into Mid-Missouri. While this is the case, the clouds aren’t looking to be widespread.

Forecast for Mid-Missouri:

Partly cloudy skies to begin the solar eclipse with scattered clouds by the end of the eclipse.

We can expect temperatures to be near 80 degrees at the start of the eclipse and fall into the upper 60s at maximum totality.

We are still six days out from the eclipse, so things will likely change.

Stay with ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather as we continue to dive into Eclipse 2017 and follow us on Twitter @ABC17Stormtrack.