Monday’s solar eclipse set to graze Northwest Missouri
By Jared Shelton News-Press NOW meteorologist
The last total solar eclipse to traverse the U.S. did so nearly seven years ago, crossing the continent from northwest to southeast in August of 2017. That day, the path of totality passed directly over St. Joseph and Northwest Missouri, the moon completely blocking the sun’s rays for a few short minutes.
Even under mostly cloudy skies, the eerie twilight and 360-degree sunset just after 1 p.m. delivered a memorable eclipse experience for many.
In just a few days, another total solar eclipse will sweep across the country. Once again, the path of totality will cross the Show Me state, this time striking the southeastern corner of Missouri before passing east of St. Louis just after 2 p.m. on Monday, April 8. St. Joseph is more than 300 miles from the 115-mile-wide shadow, muting its presence locally. Instead of completely covering the sun over Northwest Missouri, the moon will instead cast a shadow blocking 80% to 90% of its bright surface. These figures are mathematically sound and technically accurate, but they’re also misleading.
At its maximum, totality in St. Joseph will reach approximately 88% on Monday afternoon. Does this also mean it will be 88% as impressive? Unfortunately, the answer is no. In a 2017 Scientific American article, Princeton Astrophysicist Edwin L. Turner explains how conditions become “10,000 times darker when the moon covers the last 1% of the sun’s surface.” Fred Espenak, a retired NASA astrophysicist, arrived at a similar conclusion in a 2024 NPR article: “There’s such a radical, dramatic difference between a 99% partial and a 100% total. There’s no comparison.”
Given clear skies, a partial eclipse of 80% to 90% totality can deliver noticeable effects, even to the naked eye. No, this does not mean you should look directly at the sun to try and spot its crescent-shaped distortion. You’ll need eclipse glasses for that or risk serious retinal burns. Instead, take a look downward, as unique crescent-shaped shadows are often visible during partial eclipses. It’s a strange sight brought on by the sun’s abnormal projection when its light passes through narrow openings, such as those between the leaves of a tree canopy.
If skies are cloudy, Monday’s partial solar eclipse will be even less pronounced locally. As of Thursday, the forecast calls for partly cloudy conditions here in Northwest Missouri. It’s a scenario that could go either way at this point and a gamble for those hoping to get a glimpse of this year’s eclipse without leaving town.
