Partial lunar eclipse set for Thursday night amid mixed cloud forecasts across the U.S.

A partial lunar eclipse will be visible across North and South America on Thursday night, August 27, into the early hours of Friday, August 28. Meteorologists note that summer typically lacks large-scale storm systems, but localized showers, thunderstorms or cloud cover could still interfere with observation. A heat dome expected to anchor over the Southwest may promote clear skies in its core, while areas on the periphery could experience more cloudiness and precipitation.

Regional forecasts suggest scattered showers and thunderstorms may affect the Northeast from the mid-Atlantic to New England, and scattered storms could develop from Virginia through the Carolinas to Florida and the lower Mississippi Valley. The Midwest is generally expected to have favorable conditions, although parts of the Central Plains may see thunderstorms that could bring clouds into neighboring states. In the West, isolated showers in the Rockies or Desert Southwest and possible wildfire smoke are the main concerns, with high pressure likely to keep most areas clear.

The eclipse will be fully visible over much of eastern North America and South America. In Europe and Africa, the moon will set during the event on the morning of August 28, while in the western United States, western Canada, Alaska and Hawaii the moon will rise during the eclipse on the evening of August 27. The partial eclipse will last about 3.5 hours and reach its peak around 12:13 a.m. EDT.

"Heat domes bring sinking and stable air, which often hinders cloud development," a weather analyst explained.