PENNSYLVANIA, USA — All eyes will be focused on the sky Monday afternoon as the Great American Solar Eclipse crosses the country. But to actually get a good view of the solar eclipse, you need clear skies!
The FOX43 Weather Team is tracking this forecast closely.
A system will approach our region from the west early next week and could start increasing our cloud coverage in Pennsylvania. Some computer models are cloudier than others, so we'll continue to find tune this forecast through the weekend. Regardless of cloud coverage, temperatures will be milder with highs in the lower to middle 60's as you head outside to catch the eclipse!
If skies do stay clear, you'll notice a slight dimming to our daylight during the peak coverage of the eclipse, which will occur at 3:21 p.m. in Harrisburg. If skies are already cloudy, any impacts to our sunlight could be more limited.
Other impacts that will be especially apparent in the path of totality include a drop in temperatures, by as much as 10 degrees, during totality. Any clouds that are in the sky could fade as fewer sunlight leads to less heading and, therefore, less cloud coverage! Less sunlight and lower temperatures will also lead to winds slightly easing and humidity rising.
The biggest city in Pennsylvania in the path of totality is Erie.
Climatology shows that skies are clear only 43.5% of the time in Erie at this point in the year.
Despite the possible cloud coverage, Pennsylvania is expected to remain dry on Monday for eclipse viewing.