Total solar eclipse: Don't mention C or F words

One of my lifelong ambitions has always been to experience a solar eclipse first-hand.

I have of course seen and indeed commentated on many via my work at Sky News.

But to hear eclipse-chasers and scientists - normally people who are not prone to hyperbole - wax lyrical about the experience meant I felt I was in some way missing out.

That's what has brought me to Oregon on the west coast of the United States.

At 6.15pm on Monday evening UK time, the Moon will align perfectly with the Sun and for around two minutes its shadow will race across the landscape at 3,400mph plunging the earth into darkness.

Birds will fall silent, cows will lie down and, weather permitting, the many tens if not hundreds of thousands of people around me will witness a 360 degree sunset.

Now, there's the rub: weather permitting.

Eclipse-chasers from around the planet spend a huge chunk of their savings to indulge in the assault on all their senses that is a total solar eclipse.

On average they happen every 18 months - as predicted by the Babylonians as long ago as the eighth century.

But, even though this and every eclipse can be plotted to the second, Mother Nature can still ruin everyone's day with cloud.

Cloud, the C word, can destroy the whole experience, as we saw with the Cornwall total eclipse in 1999. Sea mists ruined the spectacle for many.

That could of course happen here in Madras, Oregon, although I am checking the forecast almost every hour and it does look as though skies will remain clear.

However, there is one other concern for those who've travelled far and wide to witness the biggest one-day tourist attraction ever - the F word.

Fires in forests are rife in this part of the US. Three are blazing in the area of eclipse totality right now. Right this minute!

The question I am being asked by everyone I meet here in Madras is will they die out in time or will the building excitement be replaced with complete despair?

I have no idea. Neither does the fire chief.

Surely though, even if there is a little adverse weather of one sort or another, the experience will still be worth the journey?

Well, for the answer to that I will leave the last word to the French. The difference they say between 99% and complete totality is comparable with a peck on the cheek or a night of unbridled passion.

I'm hoping for clear skies and speechless euphoria. Let's see.

Join me on Sky News from 3pm this afternoon to find out.