ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of Thursday night’s lunar eclipse, the moon isn’t the only thing you’ll need to watch.
Clouds, showers and thunderstorms could make viewing conditions tricky across Western North Carolina, according to the National Weather Service office in Greenville-Spartanburg.
Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across the region Thursday afternoon and continue into the evening. Some storms could be strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall the primary concerns.
The weather service said daily chances for showers and thunderstorms will continue through the weekend, with the potential for locally heavy rain and a few strong storms Thursday and Friday.
For Asheville, the forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday, with showers becoming more likely after 4 p.m. The high is expected to reach about 87 degrees.
Showers and storms are expected to taper Thursday night, with a 30 percent chance of precipitation, mainly before 9 p.m. The low should fall to around 64 degrees. Patchy fog is possible after 1 a.m.
That could make eclipse viewing a matter of timing — and luck.
When to watch the eclipse
The partial lunar eclipse will be visible across North Carolina Thursday night into early Friday, weather permitting.
The eclipse begins with the subtle penumbral phase at 9:23 p.m., but the more noticeable portion begins at 10:33 p.m.
The moon reaches maximum eclipse at about 12:12 a.m. Friday, when approximately 96 percent of the moon will be inside Earth’s darkest shadow. If clouds don’t get in the way, that’s when viewers can expect the moon to appear its deepest reddish or copper color.
The partial eclipse ends at 1:51 a.m., with the entire eclipse ending around 3:01 a.m.
You don’t need special glasses to watch a lunar eclipse. Just look toward the moon.
Where to watch around Asheville
You don’t need to be at a special viewing location to see a lunar eclipse. Any spot with a relatively unobstructed view of the sky should work.
If the weather cooperates, several Blue Ridge Parkway locations offer expansive views.
Craggy Gardens and Craggy Pinnacle are among the more scenic options, at elevations of roughly 5,600 feet. The higher elevation also means conditions can be very different from those in Asheville, including the possibility of fog, wind and low clouds.
Mount Pisgah and Pisgah Overlook south of Asheville also offer expansive views of the sky.
Stony Bald Overlook and Tanbark Ridge Overlook are other options along the Blue Ridge Parkway for those looking for an open view of the sky.
But there’s a catch: Don’t assume that going higher means you’ll be above the clouds.
With thunderstorms and clouds in the forecast, conditions could vary considerably from one location to another.
For that reason, it may make more sense to find an open spot closer to home rather than driving a long distance into the mountains only to find the summit covered in clouds.
More storms Friday
Friday could bring another round of unsettled weather to Asheville, with an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms and a high near 85 degrees.
The weather service expects a drying and warming trend to develop early next week. By the middle of next week, temperatures are expected to climb back into the 90s in areas east of the mountains, with increasing humidity.
For Thursday night, though, the advice is simple: Keep an eye on the sky, and if the clouds break around midnight, take a look.