Eclipse Viewing Forecast Is Questionable

Those wanting to watch the solar eclipse in Champaign-Urbana today will have to deal with some cloud cover and maybe some thunderstorms.

Meteorologist Andrew Pritchard with Chambana Weather says a line of thunderstorms coming in from Iowa later this morning will likely be a factor.

"While I think we'll get some views of the eclipse during the entire three-hour duration, I think it'll be mostly cloudy, and we've just got to hope that some of those peaks are well-timed, closer to that 1:20 maximum period of eclipse coverage here in Champaign-Urbana," Pritchard said.

Pritchard says those heading to Southern Illinois have a better chance of eclipse viewing, but there could be some cloud cover.

"They do still have a chance for some scattered thunderstorms developing during the late morning, early afternoon hours," Pritchard said. "You really have to get further southeast into Kentucky or Tennessee before I would call it a great forecast for viewing the entire solar eclipse uninterrupted."

Pritchard provides daily weather forecasts on WILL AM-580 and FM-90.9.