Gloomy weather forecast for Saturday’s eclipse

The odds of getting a clear view of Saturday’s annular solar eclipse have not improved, with a rainy system and thick clouds currently forecast to blot out the celestial event.

Widespread clouds are projected across almost the length of Oregon in the “path of annularity” — the places where the eclipse will be most striking.

The National Weather Service put odds of heavy cloud cover at 90% on the Oregon Coast, 85% in the southern Willamette Valley and 75% to 70% in Central Oregon. The best chances for sunbreaks appear to be in southeast Oregon, which still has a 60% chance of clouds.

“It’s just not ideal because we have a system coming in later Thursday night and last through Friday and Saturday,” National Weather Service meteorologist David Bishop said. “I can’t rule out that maybe we get a sunbreak here or there, but we’re certainly not expecting anything like clear skies.”

Indeed, even following the eclipse into California or Nevada, while it might present better odds of clearer skies, could still be blocked out by clouds.

“It’s a pretty widespread system,” Bishop said.

As for what Oregonians can expect with a cloudy eclipse, University of Oregon astronomy professor Scott Fisher said there could get a mix of outcomes.

“If there are thin clouds or we have thin morning fog on Saturday, we may still be able to see the moon moving in front of the sun and the ‘Ring of fire,’” Fisher said. “This will depend entirely on how thick the clouds are. If they are thick rainy clouds (which is what is forecasted), we will only get to see the sky get darker as the moon moves in front of the sun. I do think we will be able to perceive it getting darker even with the clouds.”

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Urness is the author of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or 503399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.