COLUMBUS, Ohio — One of the things you can count on every winter in central Ohio is the extended periods of overcast skies. As the total solar eclipse on April 8 approaches and areas of Ohio lay in the path of totality, many worry that the clouds could ruin the view.
Normally, as spring arrives and March gives way to the longer days and warmer temperatures of April, we can expect to see more sunshine. But, even April can be cloudy.
Doppler 10 Chief Meteorologist Jerry Martz found that 45% of all hourly observations during the month of April from across the entire state were overcast, meaning that it was completely cloudy.
No day in April 2024 has more attention than April 8, the day of the total solar eclipse. The million-dollar question is... will the skies cooperate and will we be able to see the event?
Odds are not in our favor when looking at the cloud cover for Ohio over the last 40 years.
Weather data from April 8
Statistically speaking, most of the locations in Ohio that are in the path of totality (in which the moon will completely block out the light from the sun) have a 70-80% chance of being cloudy during the afternoon of the eclipse.
But, if you look at the bright side, that means we have a 20-30% chance of it not being cloudy, which would mean better viewing conditions for the eclipse.
The Doppler 10 weather team will carefully monitor the weather leading up to the eclipse and will keep you informed.