Vicksburg and Warren Country residents should have the opportunity to view Monday’s solar eclipse, as long as the rain stays away.

National Weather Service meteorologist Thomas Winesett said there is a 20 to 30 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms Monday. If the storms stay away, the skies should be clear enough to watch the event, Winesett said.

“The cloud cover during that time you are looking at is partly cloudy skies,” he said. “Maybe slightly more. Hopefully that won’t be too much to obscure your viewing. It doesn’t look like it will be completely overcast where you wont be able to see it at all.”

The temperature Monday is supposed to reach the low 90s.

“The time of day it will occur, you will probably have upper 80s,” Winesett said. “It will be warm and muggy out. If you are outside for an extended period of time watching it, you might want to have some water or sit in the shade.”

Vicksburg will experience about 82 percent coverage of the sun at the peak. In areas where there will be a total eclipse, the event can impact the weather.

“If you are in the totality, it will actually lower the temperatures,” Winsestt said. “The moon will actually be blocking the solar radiation coming from the sun. Some places in the totality could see temperature drops up to five degrees. It will also cause the wind to become a little more calm.”

Winesett suggested that those interested in viewing the event continue to check the weather to see if rain is expected during the peak time and to check if the cloud cover projections have changed.