Solar Eclipse: Day-of do’s and don’ts

The solar eclipse is today, Monday, April 8th! We are not in the path of totality like some of us were in 2017, but there’s a lot of excitement around this event here at home and for those who are in/traveling to the path of totality.

The moon is expected to come in between the Sun and Earth today, with maximum coverage happening as viewed in Lincoln just before 2 p.m. Monday (about 1:53 p.m.). The moon will start to cover the Sun at 12:38 p.m., with the partial eclipse ending by 3:08 p.m. this afternoon.

The time is different depending on your location, but the weather will be favorable for many in southeast Nebraska! Temperatures will be hovering around 60° at the time of peak coverage with a decent southwest breeze that could gust around 20-30 mph later. If your location isn’t below, check for more here.

Not only is southeast Nebraska favored, but many along and south of I-80 are expected to be largely cloud free for eclipse viewing around 2 p.m. today. The red areas north are expecting more cloud cover to move in from the same system we saw over the weekend swirling off to the northeast. Some in northern Nebraska may see a few sprinkles with those clouds, too.

Reminder: Make sure you have the proper eyewear if you intend to view the eclipse.

And if you need help making a last-minute, safe solar eclipse viewer, I’ve got one idea below. Only simple materials are needed that you should be able to find around home! The video below can serve as a step-by-step guide for making your own.

Most of this week will feature mild weather and sunny skies. There aren’t any great chances for precipitation in the near future either, with a strong system pulling a lot of energy toward Texas and the Southeast.

Weather looks fantastic this week other than a blustery day on Thursday. Gusts could be as high as 40 mph out of the northwest on that day, dragging temperatures back down to the lower 60s.

By this weekend – the warmest weather of the week! Temperatures will be climbing into the 80s by then.

Meteorologist Jessica Blum 
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