Los Angeles solar eclipse weather forecast: Clear skies offered great view of celestial event

LOS ANGELES - Happy Eclipse Day!

The rare event of a total solar eclipse darkened skies along a 115-mile-wide path across North America Monday, but the Southland only saw a partial eclipse.

The total eclipse, where the moon fully blocks the light of the sun for several minutes, made landfall along Mexico's Pacific coast and cross into Texas and 14 other U.S. states, before exiting over Canada. Elsewhere in North America, including Los Angeles, there was a partial eclipse.

When it comes to weather, Los Angeles can't be beat. There was plenty of sunshine, thus making for some great viewing weather, according to FOX 11 meteorologist Maria Quiban.

Eclipse watchers saw very clear skies - which are key to getting the best viewing experience. The more clouds there are - the higher the possibility that the view will be obscured.

It was all thanks to winds from the north reinforcing the offshore flow over the next several days. This will also bring warmer weather to the region, especially later in the week, according to the latest forecast. You can expect drier and warmer conditions through Thursday.

SoCal to see partial solar eclipse

Eclipse Day has arrived!

Santa Ana winds will return Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, with a cooling trend expected for the weekend as a weak storm system moves into the region.

Elsewhere in the U.S., there were good viewing conditions in parts of the southern and central U.S., while much of the Mississippi Valley, the Ohio Valley the Northeast and New England had more optimistic forecasts for less cloud coverage.

The next solar eclipse in the contiguous U.S. won't be until 2044.

City News Service contributed to this report.