GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The 2024 solar eclipse is rapidly approaching and West Michigan is getting ready to watch! The partial eclipse for West Michigan occurs Monday, April 8, lasting two hours and 29 minutes from start to finish, peaking around 3:11 pm EDT with 94% of the sun covered by the moon.
SOLAR ECLIPSE TIMELINE
- 1:55 pm - First Contact - the partial eclipse begins when the edge of the Moon touches the edge of the sun.
- 2:17 pm - 20% Coverage - about one-fifth of the Sun's disk is covered by the Moon.
- 2:25 pm - Temperature Changes - the amount of solar energy decreases so temperatures may begin to cool slightly.
- 2:40 pm - Sky Darkens - as the eclipse progresses, the sky begins to darken.
- 2:48 pm - Weather Changes - conditions continue to change.
- 2:55 pm - Colors Fade - surroundings start to darken; colors turn grayish.
- 3:04 pm - Nature Reacts - animal and plant behavior affected.
- 3:11 pm - Maximum Eclipse
- 3:17 pm - Nature Returns - animals and plants are returning to normal.
- 2:34 pm - Sky Brightens - the sky and surroundings returning to normal.
- 3:30 pm - 20% Coverage - about one-fifth of the Sun's disk is covered by the Moon.
- 3:24 pm - Last Contact - the partial eclipse ends when the edge of the Moon leaves the edge of the sun.
APRIL 8 WEATHER HISTORY
The weather can vary widely on April 8 in Grand Rapids, ranging from sunny and warm to snowy and cold.
According to the 30-year average from 1991-2020 the average high on April 8 is 55° with a low of 34°. Average precipitation is 0.13'' with average snowfall of 0.1''.
Last year (2023) there was 62% of the possible sunshine with a high of 59° and low of 32°.
The records for April 8 are as follows:
- Warmest - 74° in 2021.
- Coldest - 27° in 1914.
- Wettest - 1.47'' in 2002.
- Sunniest - 100% in 2009.
- Windiest - 50 mph in 1968.
- Snowiest - 5.4'' in 2016.
APRIL 8 SUNSHINE HISTORY
The amount of sunshine (or cloud cover) is nearly evenly split with 51% of the days sunny to partly cloudy while 49% of the days are mostly cloudy to cloudy.
Here is the breakdown by percentage of days:
- 100% Sunshine - 11%
- 50 - 99% Sunshine - 40%
- 1 - 49% Sunshine - 34%
- 0% Sunshine - 15%
ECLIPSE WEATHER FORECAST
Throughout the coming days and weeks watch the sky condition forecast of the next day (not April 8) along the total eclipse path. Continuing checking out my Facebook page at Chief Meteorologist George Lessens around 9 am each day to see how the conditions change.
About ten days prior, you will get the actual April 8 forecast.
Click here for an Example Solar Eclipse Weather Forecast (for February 20, 2024, created Monday, February 19.)
Watch the 13 On Your Side team of meteorologists for updates on the solar eclipse and weather forecast leading up to April 8!
-Chief Meteorologist George Lessens
George is a graduate of Penn State University working for 13 On Your Side for over 43 years. He is a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM), a thirteen-time MAB® Weathercast Award Winner, two-time EMMY® Award Winner, NATAS® Silver Circle Award Winner, Weather-Ready Nation® Ambassador, and the AMS Charles Mitchell Award for lifetime service.
Contact me at: GeorgeLessens@13OnYourSide.com
Follow me on X/Twitter @glessens and Facebook GeorgeLessensWZZM
Have a 30-second video or photo to share? We'd love to share it with everyone! Share your images by texting your name and location to 616.559.1310 or email to Weather@13OnYourSide.com or post it to our 13OnYourSide Facebook Page