>> WELL TONIGHT AND MORE SPECIFICALLY TOMORROW MORNING. LOOK TO THE SKIES. A RARE TREAT OVER SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AT TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE OR AS HE’S COMMONLY REFERRED TO A BLOOD MOON, LIGHTING UP OUR SKIES. SO WHAT IS A TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE? BASICALLY OVERNIGHT HERE, THE SUN, THE EARTH AND THE MOON WILL COME PERFECTLY IN LINE AND AS SUCH, HE ONLY RIGHT THAT WILL BE ELIMINATING THE MOON WILL HAVE TO PASS THROUGH EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE AS IT WINDS UP IN INNER SHADOW OF THE EARTH. WE CALLED THE UMBRA AS SUCH. THE ATMOSPHERE IS GOING TO SORT OF FILTER OUT ALL OF THE VISIBLE SPECTRUM OF LIGHT SAY FOR THOSE WAVELENGTHS SAID APPEAR RED TO THE HUMAN EYE. SO THE MOON WILL LOOK RED UP IN THE SKY. NOW, HERE’S THE TIMELINE OF EVENTS. THE FULL MOON WILL RISE SHORTLY BEFORE SUNSET THIS EVENING AT 5.56 PM. PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE. WHEN THE MOON BEGINS TO MOVE INTO THE OUTER SHADOW OF THE EARTH THAT BEGINS AT 04:50AM. AND THEN THE TOTAL ECLIPSE SET TO BEGIN AT 604, AM HERE THIS MORNING OR TOMORROW MORNING, RATHER TUESDAY MORNING. SO SET YOUR ALARMS FOR ABOUT 5.45? I THINK THAT’S WHEN THE SHOW WILL REALLY START TO GET GOING OUT THERE. FIRST TO WATCH THE SHADOW SPREAD ACROSS THE SURFACE OF THE MOON. AND THEN ONCE WE GET TO 604, THAT’S WHEN THAT REDDISH GLOW REALLY BEGINS TO TAKE HOLD. NOW NOTE AS WE GO TOWARDS 7 O’CLOCK, THE SKIES GET BRIGHTER. BECAUSE SUNRISE IS AT 06:49AM. KNOW WHAT I DON’T HAVE LISTED HERE. THE MOON SAID THAT’S BECAUSE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE A VERY RARE EVENT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. SOMETHING CALLED. ACELA DELEON. HOPE I PRONOUNCED THAT CORRECTLY. THIS VERY FUN TO SAY BASICALLY THAT’S WHAT YOU HAVE THE MOON AT TOTAL ECLIPSE STILL VISIBLE ABOVE THE HORIZON AS THE SUN IS RISING. 2. AND IT’S ONLY SMALL, SMALL WINDOW WILL BE ABLE TO POTENTIALLY SEE THIS YEAR FOUND THE OVER HERE. WE’RE TALKING IN THE MOMENTS BETWEEN SUNRISE AND SUNSET AGAIN, MOON SET. IS IT 6? 51 SUNRISE AT 6.49 SO THAT 2 MINUTES, WHICH ARE TO BE SURE IS THAT YOU HAVE A CLEAR VIEW TO THE EAST AND TO THE WEST. YOU COULD POTENTIALLY SEE THE LUNAR ECLIPSE CONCURRENCE WITH THE SUNRISE OUT THERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. OF COURSE, TO SEE THAT, THOUGH, WE NEED CLEAR SKIES. SO HOW’S THE FORECAST GOING TO SHAKE OUT? GO AHEAD AND TAKE GRAPHICS FULL GUYS. WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE FUTURE CAST GOING FORWARD HERE BEGINNING THIS EVENING. WE’LL BE TRACKING SOME DOWNPOURS OUT THERE LINED UP JUST WEST OF 75 41. NOW THAT WINDS DOWN PRETTY QUICKLY. THIS SOMETHING LIKE SUMMERTIME, RAINY SEASON DAY THAT RAIN GONE BY 9, 30 10 O’CLOCK. AND THEN SKIES WILL GRADUALLY CLEAR NOW DO I THINK WILL BE A COMPLETELY CLEAR SKY OVERNIGHT. NO, THEY’LL BE SOME CLOUDS AT TIMES. BUT THERE’S 3.30 PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES WILL CALL IT. I THINK EVEN MAINLY CLEAR BY THE TIME WE GET TO 06:00AM AND THE TOTAL ECLIPSE, IT’S REALLY BEGINNING OUT THERE IN EARNEST. AND THEN BY THE TIME WE GET TO SUNRISE, IT’S MAINLY SUNNY SKIES AND WE’LL START OUR TUESDAY WITH A QUIET ONE ALL AROUND. SO AGAIN, TO SORT OF GO THROUGH THE FORECAST FOR YOU ONE MORE TIME, SOME DOWNPOURS EARLY. YES, BUT AS THE ECLIPSE BEGINS, THIS EVENING, SKIES TURN OUT MAINLY CLEAR. AND I THINK WE’RE LOOKING GOOD TO BE ABLE TO VIEW THAT TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE AND THE SELLING ALLY AND BELIEVE THAT’S HOW YOU PRONOUNCE IT EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. SO GET OUT THERE AND TAKE IN THOSE VIEWS. DON’T NEED A COAT. IT’S GOING TO BE NICE AND COMFORTABLE WITH TEMPERATURES HANGING OUT IN THE 60’S EARLY TOMORROW NUMBERS RANGING FROM THE MID 60’S AT THE COAST TO THE LOW 60’S INLAND. EVERYBODY UP ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THE DATE. AND THAT’S HOW THINGS ARE SET TO STAY BOTH BOTH THE MORNING LOWS AND THE AFTERNOON HIGHS GOING FORWARD. A WARM STRETCH OF WEATHER HERE ALONG THE GULF COAST. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 80’S ALL THE WAY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WHEN THE UPPER 80’S FOR THE WEEKEND TO NOTE THERE IS A DAILY CHANCE FOR A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN. I THINK OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, IT’S A STRAY SHOWER OR 2 THAT MOVES FROM EAST TO WEST ACROSS THE STATE DURING THE AFTERNOON. A FEW MORE OF THOSE DOWNPOURS TRYING TO POP UP FOR FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEN
Total Lunar Eclipse 2026: When to see it in Southwest Florida
Updated: 8:32 AM EST Mar 3, 2026
Missed the eclipse? Check out photos from across the Gulf Coast here.Stargazers are in for a treat tonight and Tuesday morning, as a total lunar eclipse will turn the full moon red as it shines over Southwest Florida. Here is everything you need to know!What is Total Lunar Eclipse?A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon align. The Earth then casts its shadow over the lunar surface, and the only light illuminating the moon has to pass through the Earth’s atmosphere.The particles in the atmosphere act to filter the light, leaving only the wavelengths that look red and orange to the human eye. As such, the moon takes on a red glow during a total lunar eclipse and is often referred to as a blood moon.Eclipse Timeline for Southwest FloridaThe full “worm” moon will rise on the eastern horizon at 5:56 p.m. The moon will begin to move into the earth’s outer shadow, or penumbra, at 3:44 a.m. Over the next hour, a faint shadow will gradually spread over the surface of the moon.At 4:50 a.m., the moon will begin to move into the Earth’s inner shadow, or umbra. A more pronounced shadow will begin to spread across the moon’s surface, and it will begin to take on a red glow. At 6:03 a.m., the darker shadow will have spread across the entire lunar surface, and the total lunar eclipse begins. The moon will glow red in the sky as it begins to dip toward the western horizon.However, as the sky begins to brighten in the lead-up to sunrise, the moon will appear to shrink somewhat in the sky, and the effect of the lunar eclipse will become less visible. The moon will set below the western horizon at 6:51 a.m., just as the sun is rising to the east.A Rare Selenelion Visible Along the Gulf CoastThe sun will rise Tuesday morning at 6:49 a.m., just before the moon sets at 6:51 a.m. That means, for a few moments, the moon, still in total eclipse, will be visible above the horizon in the west, while the sun begins to rise over the eastern horizon. This rare event, where both the sun and eclipsed moon are in view simultaneously, is called a selenelion. If you want to see it, make sure you have a clear, unobstructed view to both the due east and due west.Will Skies be Clear?While there will be some downpours around during the evening and early part of the overnight, that rain will be long gone by the time the total eclipse begins early Tuesday. While some lingering clouds may temporarily obscure the view of the lunar eclipse at times, skies are expected to be mainly clear across the region. It will be warm as well with temperatures holding in the middle and upper 60s overnight.Some locations in south Collier County may find their view obstructed by lingering smoke and haze from the National Fire burning in the Big Cypress Preserve. Follow, like and subscribe to Gulf Coast News on social media to share your tips and be part of the conversation with Southwest Florida’s most experienced, trusted weather team.However you watch or scroll, we’re committed to delivering accurate, timely forecasts you can rely on, wherever you are.Follow on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Threads | Bluesky | Nextdoor | XLive Interactive RadarTrack conditions in real time with the Gulf Coast Live Radar.Watch Gulf Coast WeatherFind the latest weather forecast videos, streaming live or on demand, on TV and online.Stream on the GoDownload the free Gulf Coast News app to watch on your phone or tablet.Your Gulf Coast Storm TeamChief Meteorologist Allyson RaeMeteorologist Caroline CastoraMeteorologist Jim DickeyMeteorologist Jason DunningMeteorologist Lauren HopeMeteorologist Raphael TavernierMeteorologist Rob DunsMeteorologist Sara Blue DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest breaking news and weather alerts. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
Missed the eclipse? Check out photos from across the Gulf Coast here.
Stargazers are in for a treat tonight and Tuesday morning, as a total lunar eclipse will turn the full moon red as it shines over Southwest Florida. Here is everything you need to know!
What is Total Lunar Eclipse?
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon align. The Earth then casts its shadow over the lunar surface, and the only light illuminating the moon has to pass through the Earth’s atmosphere.
Gulf Coast News
During a total lunar eclipse, the moon moves into the inner shadow, or umbra, of the earth and appears to glow red.Â
The particles in the atmosphere act to filter the light, leaving only the wavelengths that look red and orange to the human eye. As such, the moon takes on a red glow during a total lunar eclipse and is often referred to as a blood moon.
Eclipse Timeline for Southwest Florida
The full “worm” moon will rise on the eastern horizon at 5:56 p.m. The moon will begin to move into the earth’s outer shadow, or penumbra, at 3:44 a.m. Over the next hour, a faint shadow will gradually spread over the surface of the moon.
At 4:50 a.m., the moon will begin to move into the Earth’s inner shadow, or umbra. A more pronounced shadow will begin to spread across the moon’s surface, and it will begin to take on a red glow.
Gulf Coast News
The timeline of events for the total lunar eclipse Tuesday morning for southwest Florida
At 6:03 a.m., the darker shadow will have spread across the entire lunar surface, and the total lunar eclipse begins. The moon will glow red in the sky as it begins to dip toward the western horizon.
However, as the sky begins to brighten in the lead-up to sunrise, the moon will appear to shrink somewhat in the sky, and the effect of the lunar eclipse will become less visible. The moon will set below the western horizon at 6:51 a.m., just as the sun is rising to the east.
A Rare Selenelion Visible Along the Gulf Coast
The sun will rise Tuesday morning at 6:49 a.m., just before the moon sets at 6:51 a.m. That means, for a few moments, the moon, still in total eclipse, will be visible above the horizon in the west, while the sun begins to rise over the eastern horizon. This rare event, where both the sun and eclipsed moon are in view simultaneously, is called a selenelion. If you want to see it, make sure you have a clear, unobstructed view to both the due east and due west.
Will Skies be Clear?
While there will be some downpours around during the evening and early part of the overnight, that rain will be long gone by the time the total eclipse begins early Tuesday. While some lingering clouds may temporarily obscure the view of the lunar eclipse at times, skies are expected to be mainly clear across the region. It will be warm as well with temperatures holding in the middle and upper 60s overnight.
Gulf Coast News
Skies are expected to be mainly clear as the total eclipse begins shortly after 6AM Tuesday
Some locations in south Collier County may find their view obstructed by lingering smoke and haze from the National Fire burning in the Big Cypress Preserve.
Follow, like and subscribe to Gulf Coast News on social media to share your tips and be part of the conversation with Southwest Florida’s most experienced, trusted weather team.
However you watch or scroll, we’re committed to delivering accurate, timely forecasts you can rely on, wherever you are.
Follow on social media: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Threads | Bluesky | Nextdoor | X
Live Interactive Radar
Watch Gulf Coast Weather
Stream on the Go
Your Gulf Coast Storm Team
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest breaking news and weather alerts. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.