The solar eclipse is less than a month away. Thousands will come to Western North Carolina to see it, but there is one scenario that could ruin everyone’s fun – what if it rains that day?
While many towns in Western North Carolina will be in the ‘path of totality’ where it will get completely dark during the afternoon of August 21st, Andrews in Cherokee County is on the direct line of the eclipse. That means it will stay darker in Andrews longer than anyplace else in Western North Carolina on eclipse day. So - what is the likelihood it will rain on August 21st in Andrews? Since 2001, it has rained 7 times that day (info from Weather Underground), including last year. That’s just under 50% of the time. But at least for right now, rain is not forecast for that day in Andrews or the rest of Western North Carolina. But of course it can be cloudy and not rain. The National Centers For Environmental Information in Asheville does not have a reading for anywhere in North Carolina within the path of totality on the likelihood of clouds that day. But it does have a reading for Asheville, which is just outside the path of totality. It gives an 11% chance it will be overcast, and a 35% chance it will be clear on August 21st.