More than 30 million people are expected to flock to Texas for the “granddaddy of eclipses” on Monday but its a growing likelihood that clouds could steal the show in Lamar County.
According to accuweather.com, the high will be 80 degrees with clouds and breaks of sun and cloud cover of 90%.
So, what should we expect if it is cloudy on the big day? Well, it depends on how thick and how extensive the clouds are.
According to a recent study published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment, researchers found that shallow cumulus clouds will dissipate when only a portion of the sun is obscured during the solar eclipse and won’t reappear until after the event. This is because these clouds disappear as land surfaces cool, a process that begins when just 15% of the sun is covered.
However, even if there’s cloud cover on Monday, there is still a chance for a clear view.
Even with mid-to-high-level clouds, there’s still a good possibility that they disappear at the onset of totality.
A cloudy sky cannot change the drop in temperature and brightness, darkness in the day during totality (a much darker totality), and odd animal behavior.
But don’t be too concerned about odd animal behavior, they’ll simply behave as if it’s sunset since their behavior is regulated by light levels.
So, in a nutshell, during totality, if it is sunny, you’ll be in deep twilight. If it is cloudy, you’ll be in pitch darkness.
Either way, it is profound and life-altering!
