Solar eclipse 2023: Tennessee viewing and weather conditions | What you need to know

Marcus Bagwell
·2 min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — There are two significant solar eclipses occurring in the United States over the next six months. The first is an annular eclipse, happening Saturday, Oct. 14. The second (and more powerful), is the total solar eclipse, coming up on April 8, 2024.

What is an annular eclipse?

During this type of eclipse, the moon is at or close to its farthest distance from Earth. When this happens, the sun will create a ring around the moon (a ring of fire), thus making it dark for a period of time.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks the light of the sun, darkening the sky for people on Earth who are in the shadow’s path (Courtesy: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center)
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks the light of the sun, darkening the sky for people on Earth who are in the shadow’s path (Courtesy: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center)

FORECAST: Middle Tennessee & Southern Kentucky Weather

Where’s totality?

The path where totality is expected will be from the West Coast (Eugene, Oregon) to South Texas (Corpus Christi, Texas). The partial eclipse begins after 8 a.m. Pacific time, with totality (annularity) around 9 a.m.

WKRN Annular eclipse: areas where 100% totality will occur.
WKRN Annular eclipse: areas where 100% totality will occur.

What will Middle Tennessee see?

In our region, expect a partial annular eclipse (between 50% and 60% from north to south) on Saturday.

Want the forecast delivered directly to your inbox? Sign up for the News 2 Forecast Newsletter

WKRN Annular eclipse: the Ohio Valley/Tennessee Valley to experience 50% to 60% totality.
WKRN Annular eclipse: the Ohio Valley/Tennessee Valley to experience 50% to 60% totality.

In Nashville, the partial eclipse will begin at 10:38 a.m. Central time, with the maximum eclipse just after noon and the overall partial eclipse ending before 1:40 p.m.

WKRN Annular eclipse: Nashville timeline.
WKRN Annular eclipse: Nashville timeline.

Middle TN annular eclipse weather forecast

The weather will undoubtedly be cooler and breezy, but clouds are possible during this partial annular eclipse. Morning showers should be coming to an end by 10 a.m. for most areas. While we should see clouds clear, another round of clouds could move in from the northwest, impacting viewing for some locations.

  • WKRN Future Tracker: Valid Saturday 10/14 at 7 AM.
    WKRN Future Tracker: Valid Saturday 10/14 at 7 AM.
  • WKRN Future Tracker: Valid Saturday 10/14 at 10 AM.
    WKRN Future Tracker: Valid Saturday 10/14 at 10 AM.
  • WKRN Future Tracker: Valid Saturday 10/14 at 1 PM.
    WKRN Future Tracker: Valid Saturday 10/14 at 1 PM.
  • WKRN Future Tracker: Valid Saturday 10/14 at 4 PM.
    WKRN Future Tracker: Valid Saturday 10/14 at 4 PM.
  • WKRN Future Tracker: Valid Saturday 10/14 at 7 PM.
    WKRN Future Tracker: Valid Saturday 10/14 at 7 PM.

This is still very early and we’ll be able to give a better forecast as the day approaches!

Safety during the solar eclipse

You should never directly look at the sun, even if you have sunglasses on. You’ll want to purchase eclipse glasses or solar viewers. Be sure the glasses comply with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for filters for direct viewing of the sun.

Libraries across Tennessee and Kentucky may offer solar glasses to view from the library property. See this map for the libraries in your area.

How to watch the 2023 solar eclipse safely – and what you should never do

Finally, you can make your own eclipse viewers. This will project the sun’s image on a piece of cardboard or paper. This will avoid all eye contact with the direct sunlight. See this video tutorial from NASA.

Don’t forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.