Re: Clouds?
@DougS
Last time I saw a total solar eclipse, it was overcast. Cloud from horizon to horizon.
And yet, a minute or two before the eclipse was to be visible where I was, a small hole appeared in the clouds allowing me to see the eclipse. The hole was only slightly larger than the eclipse itself. The hole closed shortly afterwards.
If I remember correctly from what I found on the internet shortly afterwards, this is a known phenomenon, rather uncommon, and there is no agreed explanation for it (but there are plausible hypotheses that don't involve a magic sky fairy wanting me to have the chance to see an eclipse).
So you might be lucky anyway.