So you're all geared up for the big lunar eclipse Thursday night, but there's one wild card: Where will the weather interfere with your viewing pleasure?
Unfortunately, cloudy and stormy weather could obstruct the show for sky gazers in several regions, thanks to a potent March storm, forecasters said. But there will likely be some prime spots for eclipse viewing, too.
“The good news is the total lunar eclipse will last for more than an hour, much longer than the total solar eclipse last April, which lasted less than five minutes along the path of totality,” AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Lada said. “You only need a few breaks in the clouds to witness the total lunar eclipse.”
A "blood moon" total lunar eclipse will occur this week, astronomers say. Here's everything you need to know.
When can I see the lunar eclipse?
In the late evening hours of Thursday, March 13 into early morning Friday, March 14, the Earth will pass between the sun and moon, resulting in a total lunar eclipse. As the Earth shifts in front of the sun, blocking its light, the moon will appear a dark reddish-orange, hence the nickname "blood moon."
The total lunar eclipse will unfold over all of North America and South America. A few areas of western Europe, western Africa and New Zealand will also be able to briefly see the event if skies are clear, AccuWeather said.
Where are the worst places to view the lunar eclipse?
AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines told USA TODAY Tuesday that the worst places to see the eclipse will likely be in the Far West, the Rockies and north-central U.S., where cloud cover is forecast to be extensive.
“A massive storm moving in from the Pacific is expected to spread rain, mountain snow, and clouds across the West Coast, Rocky Mountains, and northern Plains, making it challenging to see the total lunar eclipse,” Lada said.
For example, Salt Lake City is forecast to have 93% cloud cover during the eclipse, the weather service said.
A "blood moon" total lunar eclipse will occur this week, astronomers say. Here's everything you need to know.
There will be a fair amount of cloudiness in the Northeast as well, Kines said.
Folks in the Rockies will have to contend with snow in addition to the cloudy conditions, he added.
Where are the best places to view the lunar eclipse?
"The best weather conditions to enjoy the total lunar eclipse are expected from Texas to the Ohio Valley, as well as southern Florida," Lada said.
Indeed, according to the weather service, Miami is forecast to have only 3% cloud cover during the eclipse.
A "blood moon" total lunar eclipse will occur this week, astronomers say. Here's everything you need to know.
Clear skies are also expected in portions of the central Plains, specifically Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, according to Kines.
When is the next lunar eclipse?
This will be the first of two total lunar eclipses in 2025, but it will be the only one visible from North America. The next is on Sept. 7-8 and will be seen over Asia, Australia and parts of Africa and Europe.
Another total lunar eclipse won't be visible in the U.S. until March 2026, according to NASA.
Contributing: Janet Loehrke, Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY