GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — This Saturday, October 14, 2023, a "Ring of Fire" eclipse will take place over the United States, and a portion of the eclipse is expected to be visible here in West Michigan.
This would be cause to break out the pinhole projectors and eclipse glasses to see the sun look like a big cookie with a bite taken out of it, that is if it wasn't for mother nature. Much like last weekend, she has some gloomy weather planned for our weekend ahead.
If the weather is clear, we should expect to start to see the moon creep over the sun around 11:41 in the morning Saturday. This would be followed by peak coverage (around 40%) at 1 pm, ending by 2:22 pm.
However, don't get excited. Our weekend forecast here in West Michigan is for overcast skies and likely rainfall. This will mean the eclipse is not expected to be visible at all.
In fact, the chances at seeing this eclipse anywhere within an easy drive of West Michigan are not good. Below is the visibility forecast over our region at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Conditions are likely to be poor.
This will be the last annular eclipse here in the mainland United States until 2046, with the next one causing impacts to us here in West Michigan taking place in 2048. This eclipse will however bring the "Ring of Fire" right over the state of Michigan!
To learn more about these kinds of eclipses click here.
Of course, WZZM will be here to keep you informed for this an every eclipse visible in the region, including the total solar eclipse in 2024 that will bring upwards of 95% of totality right here to West Michigan!
-- Meteorologist Michael Behrens
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