In regions around the southern Plains and western Gulf Coast, clouds and storms may obstruct Monday's total solar eclipse.
Multiple sets of storms are expected to start Monday afternoon across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, threatening 20 million people. Very large hail will be the main concern Monday, shifting Tuesday to East Texas and Louisiana. Texas cities like Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio will be hit worst.
Storms are likely to start between 3 and 4 p.m. CT in Dallas after the eclipse at 1:30. Kerrville and Junction, Texas, could get storms between 1 and 2 p.m., but they would likely be isolated and just starting.
Texas may experience huge hail, strong winds, isolated tornadoes, and frequent lightning from these storms. Tuesday may bring heavy storms and flash flooding to most of Texas.
The storms' time and position are unknown, but tendencies suggest they will occur after totality. Monday's storms will bring additional low-, mid-, and high-level clouds, which will obscure the eclipse more than high-level ones.
The National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center suggests that clouds may block the eclipse view in Texas, southern Arkansas, Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, and New York.
High, thin, transparent, tissue-paper-like cirrus clouds will cover much of the eclipse path Monday. The good news is that high cirrus clouds may only partially conceal the eclipse.
Texas cities including Dallas, Kerrville, and Junction will have all-level clouds, while Arkansas, Illinois, and Indiana will have towering clouds. Little Rock, Arkansas, and Indianapolis. Brockport, western New York, is anticipated to see 69% low and 87% mid clouds. Most of the East Coast is likely to have clear skies, with Maine having nearly no clouds at all levels.
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