An estimated 31.6 million people live in the path of totality, compared with roughly 12 million in the last total solar eclipse that traversed the contiguous United States in August 2017, according to Nasa.
But less-than-ideal weather forecasts have stirred anxiety for people who have made travel plans, some booking expensive airline and hotel reservations to get what they hoped would be the best possible view.
As of Friday, according to the Weather Prediction Center, clouds were most likely to impede US viewing from Texas into Arkansas, and possibly in Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and western New York.
Overcast skies are likewise expected for much of Mexico.
The best chances of clear viewing in the US lie in the northern corners of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, as well as parts of Canada, and from southern Missouri to central Indiana, the center said.
Weiss also said the forecast would likely change by Monday, though current predictions leaning heavily one way or another will probably harden by then.
“I check it three of our times a day,” Fine said of the Dallas weather forecast as he was packing for the trip.
Across North America, notable cities in the path of totality for the 2024 solar eclipse include Mazatlán and Torreón, Mexico; San Antonio, Austin and Dallas, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Cleveland, Ohio; Buffalo and Rochester, New York; Burlington, Vermont; and most of Montreal, Canada.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
