N.Y. weather: Will it be cloudy for viewing the solar eclipse on April 8?

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — For the first time in centuries, New York state will be in the path of totality for a solar eclipse next month — but the view of this rare celestial event will depend on the weather.

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the United States and Canada, according to NASA. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. During this time, the sky will darken, as if it were dawn or dusk.

New York state has several cities in the path of totality, which means hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit to see the phenomenon. Those cities include Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Rochester.

Unless you plan to travel to view the eclipse in the path of totality, you will likely see a partial solar eclipse. In New York City, it will be visible as a partial solar eclipse.

Millions of people will look to the sky to witness the breathtaking event — so long as the weather doesn’t ruin it.

AccuWeather long-range forecasters say it’s too early to give a precise cloud forecast for April 8, but weather patterns and emerging trends have been identified to create a look at the forecast for the day.

According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Paul Pastelok, the Northeast — including New York state — faces the highest risk of clouds. Currently, western parts of New York state, like Buffalo and Rochester, are expecting a fair chance of viewing the eclipse, while northern cities, such as Syracuse and Fort Drum, will have a poor chance.

However, there is still a chance that cloud-free weather will win out in these areas.

The cloud forecast for the eclipse is complex — meteorologists are predicting if it will be cloudy only for the four-minute window when the moon completely blocks out the sun during totality. On top of that…