How to see the eclipse from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge? What time will the eclipse happen here? and how will it look? How long will it last?
I've got answers to these questions!
According to USA Today, our area in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg has a 60-80% chance of clear skies for this rare (Monday) April 8 Solar Eclipse!
This is a great image is from Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024: Path Map and Times (timeanddate.com) and shows the best areas to see the eclipse.
And while Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg will not have a 100% solar eclipse, we will have about 87%.
Clingman's Dome will have a special event and the top of Clingman's Dome will be for media only. See more details here:
Clingmans Dome Solar Eclipse Event - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) NASA will broadcast live from this location!
As you can see, the time for Pigeon Forge will begin 1:49 pm and start moving over the sun until its peak at 3:08 pm, and then start moving past it until 4:23 pm.
If you are in Gatlinburg, the numbers are just about the same. If you decide to go to Nashville, for a little bit better view, check out ItsinNashville.com before you go! It has some great tips on some real gems in Nashville.
Nashville could have more cloud cover than us, though. That is the prediction. I think we are better off here in our area.
If you would like to see an animation of how the sun will be covered, this link has a really excellent video: April 8, 2024 Partial Solar Eclipse in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA (timeanddate.com)
Be sure to wear ISO certified solar eclipse glasses; regular sunglasses and welding glasses are not strong enough to protect your eyes.
What to Expect?
The weather forecast for our area in East Tennessee is for mixed clouds, so it's hard to say if the skies will cooperate, but in East Tennessee, you never know. The weather can change fast, the clouds can be there one minute, and gone the next.
Also expect a bit of partial darkness for a short time during the height of the eclipse. While we are not in the path of 100% totality, we are close! I think it will be a great experience!