DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) -- On Monday, Ohio will experience its first total solar eclipse in over 200 years.
Timing and weather conditions are everything when it comes to the eclipse. So what time will the Miami Valley be able to see this once-in-a-lifetime event?
When will Dayton reach totality?
The partial solar eclipse begins in Dayton just before 2 p.m., at 1:53 p.m. This is when the moon begins to cover the sun.
Dayton will reach peak totality at 3:09 p.m. for a totality duration of 2 minutes, 42 seconds. Totality is when the moon fully covers the sun, turning day to night for a brief few minutes.
Once the eclipse reaches totality, the moon will begin to uncover the sun again. The partial eclipse ends around 4:25 p.m., when the sun is no longer obscured by the moon at all.
Each city will have a slightly different schedule and some cities may see a longer or shorter totality duration.
View the map below to see what time your city will reach totality and for how long. Click here to view map in a separate browser.
Why is totality important?
On average, a total solar eclipse happens somewhere on Earth only once every 1.5 years. Only 21 total solar eclipses have crossed the lower 48 states in the entire existence of the United States.
Not only is this a rare event, but total solar eclipses allow us to see the sun in ways we normally can't.
NASA says that we can't normally see the corona, the sun's outer atmosphere, because the sun's surface is so much brighter. But during a solar eclipse, the corona becomes visible, giving scientists a unique opportunity to study it.
Totality also allows viewers to remove their eclipse glasses for a few moments. A total solar eclipse is the only type of solar eclipse where eyewear can be momentarily removed.
Totality also creates strange occurrences. Because the sun gets covered up, day turns to night, and nocturnal animals may think it's time to wake up. Witnesses of previous eclipses report hearing animal noises commonly heard during the nighttime.
Will clouds ruin the eclipse?
Right now, it looks like the Miami Valley could be cloudy on eclipse day, though STORM TEAM 2 says clouds should thin by peak eclipse time. Will this ruin the eclipse?
While we might not be able to fully see the sun get covered up by the moon, the eclipse will still cause the sky to darken, making 3 p.m. in the afternoon look like the middle of the night.
But forecasts can change, and with so many people arriving in town for the big event, we can hope for the best.
2 NEWS will be LIVE beginning at 1:45 p.m. on Monday, giving viewers a unique look as the eclipse passes over the Miami Valley. Click here to see more eclipse coverage.