Cloudy skies forecast for Lake Tahoe during Saturday's solar eclipse

A partial solar eclipse should be visible from the Lake Tahoe Basin this Saturday, October 14. The peak of the eclipse will occur at 9:21 a.m. from Tahoe and will appear as 85 percent of a total eclipse. Unfortunately, there is a chance that cloud cover will interrupt a clear view of the eclipse. At this time the forecast at 9 a.m. is "mostly cloudy" and 46 degrees.

A short drive into the middle of Nevada will provide the best viewing experience for the area. Elko has a cloudy forecast but Ely is forecast to be sunny and clear. To witness the total solar eclipse, you will need to be within the 115-mile-wide path of totality (see map above).

The whole eclipse is two and a half hours, but the totality will only last about four minutes.

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. The moon's disk does not fully cover the sun and a ring of bright sunlight, or annulus, is seen. This "Ring of Fire" is visible around the moon during the maximum phase of this type of eclipse.

It is never safe to look at the sun during an annular eclipse without special-purpose solar filters, or optical devices. Wherever you are, make sure to wear your safety glasses. Looking directly at the sun could damage the eyes.

For an eclipse map and more information, visit https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2023-october-14