Clouds and cold forecasted for weekend annular eclipse
Oct 12, 2023, 7:00 AM
This photo represents a partial solar eclipse, but it's an annular eclipse that has stargazers excited for this weekend. For those hoping to see it in Utah, the National Weather Service says you should be prepared for cold temperatures! (Clark Planetarium)
(Clark Planetarium)
SALT LAKE CITY — Some cloud cover and a very cold night are in the forecast for this weekend’s annular eclipse.
According to Nicole Desmet, a meteorologist with the Salt Lake City National Weather Service, some clouds will be hanging over northern Utah this weekend. But for those traveling south, the sky should clear up by Saturday afternoon.
“Right now the morning starts out at about 50% cloud cover, and it clears to about 40% by noon,” she said. “So, about a partly cloudy to mostly clear forecast.”
The cold may be the bigger issue
However, one of the bigger issues for travelers won’t be the clouds, but the cold.
“That Saturday morning will be cooler,” says Desmet. “We are seeing temperatures Saturday morning in the low-to-mid 30s.”
She suggests that if you are traveling this weekend, “make sure you’re prepared and bundled up for the cooler temperatures.”
Along with preparing for cooler temperatures, Desmet suggests checking the forecast both the day before and the day of the eclipse to be sure you are prepared for any situation.
UDOT also warns that traffic is expected to be extra heavy this weekend and to prepare for delays.
The annular eclipse will pass through Richfield, Utah beginning at 9:09 a.m. Followed by peak annularity between 10:26 and 10:31 a.m. according to NASA’s website.
NASA offers a full chart of when and where to view the eclipse on its webpage.
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