[video: why-eclipses-have-always-fascinated-us,video_default,598e3a5f89ec02010af6ad91] Updated Monday, Aug. 21, 6:10 a.m.: Most of Oregon will have clear, beautiful eclipse-viewing skies along the path of totality Monday morning. But it's a different story for the roughly 25-mile stretch of the Oregon Coast from Lincoln City to Newport.
Forecasted cloud cover is more entrenched than initially thought on that stretch of the path, and according to the National Weather Service in Portland is not expected to clear up in time for totality, which should begin on that stretch at roughly 10:15 a.m. Monday.
"The clouds are more entrenched in the bays than we were anticipating," Colby Neuman, a meteorlogoist with the NWS in Portland said. "Just generally, [the cloud cover on the coast] usually on a typical day starts to clear up around 9 or 10 a.m., but because we’re going to be losing heating from the sun during that time because of the eclipse, I sort of would think that it would stick around through that time.”
Neuman said it's not all bad news, as the clouds are low-lying and easy to escape by simply moving a few miles inland to a higher elevation. Neuman suggested that even as little as 500 feet elevation should be enough to get people above the cloud line and back into the prime eclipse-viewing territory.
Elsewhere across the state, however, conditions look much better.
Related: Watch Oregon react to the total solar eclipse as it happens.
Meteorologist David Bishop says for massive crowds in Madras, Redmond and Prineville, thousands of acres of wildfires could make for a smoky view, but clouds will not be a problem.
"There might be a little bit of haze or a little bit of smoke in the area," Bishop said of Central Oregon. "But it’s not looking like it’s going to blot out the sun, so to speak."
Related: Coming To Oregon For The Eclipse? Laws You Need To Know
Out in Eastern Oregon, wildfire smoke could threaten some peoples' view of the eclipse. But John Peck, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pendleton, Oregon, says there aren't any large wildfires in that area right now to affect views of the eclipse.
Despite the weather, both Bishop and Peck warn of the importance of viewing the eclipse with the proper eyewear.
"Something to keep in mind if you’re going to stay outside of the path of totality is you’re not going to be able to look at the sun without protective eyewear. Inside the path of totality, it’s OK to look at the sun during the period of the total eclipse — so that’s anywhere from 20 seconds to 2 minutes depending on how close you are to the center," Peck said.
Here are the projected forecasts for various Oregon cities along the path of totality for Monday:
Albany: Skies should be clear during eclipse time, with patchy wildfire smoke in the area after noon and a high near 88 degrees.
Baker City: Sunny, clear skies are in the forecast, with a high near 89 degrees.
Corvallis: Skies should be clear during eclipse time, with patchy wildfire smoke in the area after 11 a.m. Highs for Monday should hover around the high 80s.
Related: OPB's Coverage Of The Oregon Solar Eclipse 2017
Dallas:
Skies should be clear in the morning, with possible wildfire smoke cover after 11 a.m and a high temperature of 87 degrees.
Fossil: Sunny, clear skies with a high near 87 degrees.
John Day: Sunny, clear skies with light winds and a high near 88 degrees.
Lebanon: Skies should be clear in the morning, with possible wildfire smoke cover after 11 a.m and a high temperature of 89 degrees.
Lincoln City: Patchy fog is expected to hang around the coastal city before noon, with mostly cloudy skies until gradually becoming sunny throughout the day with a high near 65 degrees.
Madras: Sunny, clear skies with a high near 88 degrees.
McMinnville: Sunny, clear skies are in the forecast, with a high near 88 degrees.
Newport: Patchy fog is expected to hang around the region before noon, with mostly cloudy skies gradually giving way to sunshine and a high near 59.
Ontario: Sunny, with clear skies and hot with a high near 93 degrees.
Prairie City: Sunny, clear skies with light winds and a high near 85 degrees.
Prineville: Sunny, clear skies with a high near 89 degrees.
Seneca: Sunny, clear skies with light winds and a high near 85 degrees.
Redmond: Sunny, clear skies with calm, steady winds and a high near 91 degrees.
Woodburn: Skies should be clear in the morning, with possible wildfire smoke cover after 11 a.m and a high temperature of 89 degrees.