Solar Eclipse 2017: Long Island Weather Forecast

The once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse, which will be at 70 percent totality on Long Island, will be seen next week on Monday, Aug. 21.

Nobody wants to miss this phenomenon, but sometimes it's out of our control due to the weather.

The question on everyone's mind is: will the skies be clear enough?

According to The Weather Channel, Monday, Aug. 21 should be sunny with clear skies. The temperature is expected to reach a high of 82 degrees. Weather can oftentimes change, so let's keep our fingers cross this forecast delivers.

• Total Solar Eclipse 2017: What Long Island Residents Need To Know

According to eclipse2017.org, Long Island will experience an approximately 70 percent eclipse. The partial phases will start in our area at 1:24 p.m., according to Stony Brook University. It will then reach a maximum effacement of the sun's disk at 2:46 p.m. and end around at 4:01 p.m.

Check out Vox's interactive map to figure out what time the solar eclipse will reach its height in your area.

Now that we know Long Island will be able to actually see the solar eclipse, here are a few viewing tips:

• Looking directly at the sun is unsafe, and the only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special “eclipse glasses” with solar filters, warns NASA.
• Homemade filters or sunglasses are not safe for looking at the sun. Five manufacturers have certified that their eclipse glasses and handheld solar views meet international standards, and they are Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics, Thousand Oaks Optical, TSE 17 and Baader Planetarium.
• Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After glancing at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun.
• Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars or other optical device. Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury. Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars or any other optical device.
• If you are within the path of totality, remove your solar filter only when the moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to glance at the remaining partial phases.
• An alternative method for safe viewing of the partially eclipsed sun is pinhole projection. For example, cross the outstretched, slightly open fingers of one hand over the outstretched, slightly open fingers of the other. With your back to the sun, look at your hands’ shadow on the ground. The little spaces between your fingers will project a grid of small images on the ground, showing the sun as a crescent during the partial phases of the eclipse.

NASA will be providing live video from several cities in the path of the total eclipse.

Places on Long Island hosting viewing events include (click on the links for more details):

• Cradle of Aviation Museum, located on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in Garden City
• The South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center, located at 377 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike in Bridgehampton
• Bethpage Public Library, located at 47 Powell Ave. in Bethpage
• East Meadow Public Library, located at 1886 Front St. in East Meadow
• Floyd Memorial Library, located at 539 First St. in Greenport
• Huntington Public Library, located at 333 Main St. in Huntington
• John Jermain Memorial Library, located at 201 Main St. in Sag Harbor
• Mastic Moriches Public Library, located at 407 William Floyd Parkway in Shirley
• Middle Country Public Library, located at 101 Eastwood Boulevard in Centereach
• North Bellmore Public Library, located at 1551 Newbridge Road in North Bellmore
• North Shore Public Library, located at 250 Route 25A in Shoreham
• Oceanside Public Library, located at 30 Davison Ave. in Oceanside
• South Huntington Public Library, located at 145 Pidgeon Hill Road in Huntington Station
• Wantagh Public Library, located at 3285 Park Ave. in Wantagh

Photo from Rutgers University