Clear skies for today's eclipse but clouds arrive Tuesday

In case folks haven't yet heard(!) today - Monday - a rare event will occur. A solar eclipse will take place, with the path of totality crossing the U.S. This graphic illustrates the difference between a lunar (top) and a solar (bottom) eclipse:

The strip of the U.S. where totality will be visible is hundreds of miles west of Mecklenburg county. Locally the most the sun will be obscured by the moon will be just over 80%, which will occur around 3:15 p.m. this afternoon. That will only slightly dim the sun's rays. DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN unless you have special eclipse glasses. 

The good news for local folks is that clouds don't look to be a problem east of U.S. Route 29. Temperatures will also be mild, with highs this afternoon climbing to the low 70s from morning lows near 40 degrees. Tonight clouds will begin to roll in overhead as a cold front approaches from the west.

Tuesday will then turn out mostly cloudy with showers arriving during the afternoon. Temperatures will begin the day in the low 50s and top out in the low 70s once again. Although the remainder of the week will continue to be warm it will be damp as well, with showers and perhaps some thunderstorms occurring each day through Friday.