A TOTAL eclipse of the Sun creates a mini-cyclone that moves with the Moon’s shadow, even when the sky is cloudy. The confirmation of this phenomenon backs up common reports from eclipse chasers that the darkening sky stirs up a breeze.
During a total eclipse, the temperature drops noticeably, and this generally means that winds die down. But in 1901, American meteorologist Helm Clayton suggested that a cold-cored cyclone follows the path of the Moon’s shadow (see Diagram), explaining why some people report feeling a gust just before or after totality. But the “eclipse wind” is controversial and some…
