Laurae Pearson expressed some concern about the possibility of cloudy weather affecting her cross-country road trip to view the eclipse. Clint Werner, an "eclipse evangelist," is excited for his 21st eclipse viewing and remains hopeful for a clear view on his trip from San Francisco to Cleveland.
Meanwhile, astrophysicist Antonella Fruscione and her group are closely monitoring weather forecasts for their planned eclipse viewing in Texas, which they've been planning since seeing the 2017 eclipse together in Idaho.
They remain determined to witness the event, even if it means making a last-minute decision to change their viewing location.
Millions of Americans are eagerly anticipating the rare solar eclipse on April 8, with nearly the entire country having the opportunity to witness at least a partial eclipse.
However, those planning to travel to the path of totality, where the eclipse will be most visible, are facing uncertain weather forecasts. Fruscione's group, for example, is prepared to drive to a more favorable location, such as Vermont, if the weather in Texas doesn't cooperate.
Despite the potential for cloudy skies, many eclipse enthusiasts like Werner remain optimistic.
He believes that even if clouds are present, the eclipse will still be a remarkable experience. Werner has experienced being "clouded out" only three times in his 21 eclipse viewings, and he finds that even those experiences have been significant.
According to Werner, shallow cumulus clouds often disappear during a solar eclipse, enhancing the viewing experience.
Laurae Pearson and her husband Kevin Weil are embracing the journey of their 17-day cross-country trip, which includes the eclipse viewing as a highlight.
While Pearson admits to feeling some concern about the weather, she remains committed to their travel plans, viewing the trip as a celebration with family and friends.
Organizers in Texas, such as Shalissa Perry, are encouraging eclipse watchers not to lose hope despite the uncertain forecasts. Perry emphasized that the eclipse viewing party in Downtown Dallas will proceed as planned, promising a spectacular day of events regardless of visibility.
Former NASA astronaut Commander Terry Virts, who witnessed an eclipse from space in 2015, is also looking forward to the upcoming eclipse.
While he acknowledges the importance of having a backup plan, he remains optimistic about the eclipse's impact, even if viewed through clouds, describing it as a surreal experience with the potential for darkness during the event.