The Second Day of Totality: Observational Monitoring and Preparing for the Day’s Spectacular High-Energy Sun

The forecast could still change, so the NWS says to check the forecast and adjust.

It is warning that there could be storms and flash flooding after the totality in parts of Texas into south Oklahoma, southwest Arkansas and west Louisiana, bringing large hail and severe wind gusts.

The best chance for clear viewing is in New England and from northern Arkansas to central Indiana, though there is a high potential for cloud cover there.

In the days leading up to the eclipse, the governors of Arkansas and Indiana and leaders in several counties and cities across the eclipse’s path declared states of emergency to make more resources available to deal with the influx of visitors.

There is much anticipation and preparation heading into the day, as people have made travel plans, organized viewing parties, broken out their red and green gear and generally gotten ready to make the most of a brief moment of daytime darkness.

You can follow Totality on the internet if you’re outside of the path, but there will be a few minutes in each location.

Communities are preparing in the path of totality. Two years have passed since the last US city in the eclipse’s path, and there are still celebrations taking place.

After countless road trips, hotel bookings, glasses purchases and fingers crossed for good weather, the day millions of Americans have been waiting for is finally here.

A Rare Solar Eclipse Darkened Sky and Dazzled Viewers Crossing the U.S. The Long Journey from Houlton, Maine to Newport, New York

It went from a partial eclipse along Mexico’s Pacific Coast to a full eclipse in Texas about an hour later.

It made its way north over the next several hours, bringing brief moments — no more than five minutes’ worth — of daytime darkness to areas in the over 100-mile wide path of totality.

Officials in Houlton, Maine — the last U.S. city in the eclipse’s path — spent over two years planning days of festivities. So did Muncie, Ind., where one museum official told NPR the city was expecting some 100,000 visitors — nearly doubling the population.

The municipal garage in Burlington, Vermont was fully subscribed by 11 a.m., more than four hours ahead of totality. According to Linda Joy Sullivan, visitors from all over the world were coming to Newport in 90 private planes.

The Cleveland Guardians’ home opener and the eclipse resulted in many cars flooding the city’s roads.

Across the path of totality, viewers gathered at parks, science centers, schools and other community centers to take in the scene. As the sky was darkened, they could be seen clapping and cheering while craning their necks.

Forecasters have spent days trying to pinpoint how potential rainy or cloudy weather could put a damper on eclipse viewing and warning of possible storms in Texas and other places.

Source: A rare solar eclipse darkened skies and dazzled viewers across the U.S.

Clouds did not stop people from flocking to Dallas and buying eclipse merchandise in the early 1990s and early 2000s, prompting a meteorological boom in tourism

The forecast saw some people pivot to backup plans — like Monica and Prashant Joshi and their son Ved, of New Jersey, who rebooked their flights from Dallas to Vermont last week.

But many others still flocked to North and Central Texas, which had some of the longest totality times in the country and were expected to draw up to a million travelers — and a sizable corresponding boom in business. Clouds didn’t stop crowds from forming — and buying eclipse-themed merchandise — in Dallas.