Will weather cooperate or block the total lunar eclipse on Thursday?

A total lunar eclipse will occur in western Washington on the night of Thursday, March 13.

During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth moves directly between the sun and the moon, blocking sunlight from reaching the moon. This causes the moon to take on a deep red-orange hue, often called a “Blood Moon.”

The eclipse begins at 10:10 P.M. as the Earth moves in front of the moon. The total eclipse will be reached at 11:25 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring just before midnight. The total eclipse phase ends at 12:30 A.M. on March 14, and the partial eclipse concludes shortly after 1:45 a.m.

The last lunar total eclipse in the region occurred on November 8, 2022. A significant and much more memorable total lunar eclipse happened on the night of January 31, 2018. This was the second full moon of the month, making it a “blue moon,” but it was also a super moon, meaning the moon was closer to Earth in its orbit around the planet, and to top it off, it was also a total lunar eclipse. Some called this event a “super blue blood moon.”

Related from MyNorthwest: Eerie ‘blood moon’ to illuminate Washington skies in first total lunar eclipse in over 2 years

Will the weather cooperate?

The big question is whether the skies will be clear enough to view the eclipse. The best chance to see this event will come during breaks in the clouds between scattered showers.

After a wet weekend, Monday will bring diminishing showers. Another Pacific storm system will arrive Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing additional rain. A cool, unsettled air mass will follow, producing scattered showers and occasional cloud breaks—offering a possible viewing window for the eclipse on Wednesday night.

Showers will persist into Thursday before another system brings more rain on Friday.

Temperatures this week are anticipated to be close to 5 degrees below mid-March average readings, with highs close to 50 degrees through Thursday, and then only in the 40s Friday. Lows will generally be cool, in the 30s to lower 40s.  

More mountain snow 

The cool conditions means mountain snow levels will remain below Cascade highway pass levels. Snow is expected above about 1500 to 2500 feet throughout the week. Motorists crossing the Cascades should be prepared for winter weather driving conditions.  

During the course of the week, overall new snow amounts should rack up one to three feet, with the higher amounts across the more elevated terrain like the volcanoes. This fresh snow should also help make up more ground on the currently below-average mountain snowpack, good news for skiers as well as water supply and wildfire authorities.  

With the change to Daylight Saving Time now in the rear view mirror, sunsets are now past 7 p.m. Enjoy the longer daylight evenings, even if those hours may be wet.

Ted Buehner is the KIRO Newsradio meteorologist. Follow him on X and Bluesky.