What to expect with this year’s solar eclipse

(WALA) - Parts of the U.S. are in for a treat on Monday, April 8, with a rare total solar eclipse happening in many locations. In our area, we expect a partial eclipse. So how does this compare to the 2017 eclipse we experienced?

The 2024 Great American Eclipse will put the path of totality from Texas to Arkansas, and up through the Ohio Valley and the Northeast.

We will see a partial eclipse along our part of the Gulf Coast. So, what we could expect?

That depends on the cloud forecast of course. Assuming we could actually see the sun, we can always take a look at the partial eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017.

Locally in 2017, approximately 80% of the sun was obscured by the moon. This is very similar to the 83% partial eclipse we are expecting Monday. In 2017, people were out taking it all in. In Fairhope, kids came out to the park next to Fairhope pier. Some were prepared with special homemade viewing devices.

In 2017, I had the opportunity to travel to the Huntsville Space and Rocket Center. Here, the eclipse reached 97% - almost a total eclipse. It was a toasty summer afternoon, and the eclipse help to shade the sun a bit

You will have to travel Arkansas or Tennessee to have a chance to see a view this good this year. Our FutureCast shows along that path of totality, especially in Texas; partly cloudy in Arkansas; and possible partly cloudy here for the partial eclipse on Monday. Hopefully, that forecast will change.