2024 Solar Eclipse: When To Look Up In Massachusetts

MASSACHUSETTS — Even though Massachusetts residents aren't among the 34 million Americans in the path of totality for today's solar eclipse, there's still plenty of reason to step outside this afternoon.

For some portions of the state, viewing the eclipse will be a race against cloud cover over Massachusetts.

According to the National Weather Service, Worcester County will be at the edge of a band of mid-level clouds that might obscure the eclipse. Clouds will be higher heading east toward Middlesex County, which means clearer skies.

Essex County and Cape Cod may have the clearest skies in the state on Monday, according to the forecast. The weather service created an animation showing how clouds will develop over the day, showing cloud cover at about 16 percent in Boston at 3 p.m., and 22 percent in the Worcester area.

In the Berkshires — the part of the state that will see the most totality at about 95 percent — will have close to 50 percent cloud cover by 3 p.m.

Only our yellow star’s spiky corona will be visible in the 15 states in the path of totality, which extends from Texas to Maine in the United States. Massachusetts is close to the path of totality, but we'll see a less dramatic blockage of the sun with between 93 percent totality (Worcester area) and 92 percent (Boston area) as the moon slips between the sun and Earth.

By comparison, New England only saw 60 to 70 percent totality during the 2017 eclipse.

Here's when to check out the eclipse in a major few areas of the state, according to a NASA map that is searchable by ZIP code.

Cape Cod

• Partial eclipse begins: 2:16 p.m.
• Maximum: 3:30 p.m.
• Partial ends: 4:39 p.m.

Boston

• Partial eclipse begins: 2:16 p.m.
• Maximum: 3:29 p.m.
• Partial ends: 4:39 p.m.

Worcester

• Partial eclipse begins: 2:15 p.m.
• Maximum: 3:29 p.m.
• Partial ends: 4:38 p.m.

Salem

• Partial eclipse begins: 2:16 p.m.
• Maximum: 3:30 p.m.
• Partial ends: 4:39 p.m.

Great Barrington

• Partial eclipse begins: 2:12 p.m.
• Maximum: 3:26 p.m.
• Partial ends: 4:37 p.m.

If you're looking for a sweet addition to your viewing experience, Cookie Monstah Bake Shops are offering the limited-time "The Eclipstah" Friday through Monday. The sandwich includes homemade double chocolate and salted caramel cookies with Milky Way ice cream between them.

The shop has locations in Danvers and Swampscott.

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