My understanding is when the weather looks iffy, everyone hops in their cars and starts driving to where it’s supposed to be better, causing major traffic issues.
School districts closed all across my former state because of traffic concerns. They expect the population of the state to increase by at least 33%, if not more. Residents have been told to expect travel issues, gas shortages, etc. Local and state officials are apparently suggesting folks prepare as though a snowstorm is coming and to hunker down.
Are you talking about the past eclipse or the coming one when you say school districts closed?
We went to the 2017 one and there was some traffic but it was like a sporting event or a big concert, not a natural disaster and as far as I know school districts did not close in N.C. or SC. We live in N.C. and went to S.C to see it. Took the kids out of school to do it. I don’t think there were any gas shortages. It was really just like a big event, not a snowstorm or hurricane.
Ok, I looked it up and apparently it was a mixed bag on schools closing in 2017. If I lived in the totality I’d want my school to have eclipse glasses for every student and have a special viewing.
We went to SC in 2017. Drove along one of the smaller roads and pulled into a random parking lot a few minutes before the eclipse. Was cloudy and we were very bummed, but it cleared up right in time and we got a glorious view! Hardly any people around.
We will be in OH this year. Columbus is almost a 100% and I agree almost doesn’t cut it in this case. So, we will be driving west of columbus - don’t know where to yet. Keeping fingers crossed. I convinced S that he should come too -he’s flying down just for the day!
In our area, where we are at like 99.6% totality, the eclipse will occur just at the time that school would be dismissing - so a terrible time to send kids walking home. They are extending spring break by one day and giving them that day off AND kids also all got a pair of glasses to take home for use that day.
We got free glasses this week at a local Warby Parker (eyeglass store). They were doing two per customer and you had to take their promotional flyer with it.
We are enjoying our trip to the eclipse, visiting a bunch of National Parks on the way. Today was Joshua Tree, and we’re heading to AZ tomorrow. Given the uncertain weather in Texas, we’ve got two reservations, one near San Antonio and the other further north near Ft Worth, which looks like it may be a better bet right now.
The weather is flip flopping so much between cloudy and sunny! I feel like we will wake up and see what we get that day.
I’m sort of shocked how many places - even retail and work places - are closing for the day. Alternatively we are seeing lots of work places sponsoring “watch parties/treats” for a couple hour period Monday afternoon. I think that is a fair compromise.
I’m planning to work from home that day and then spending time in the yard where we have the best unobstructed view of the sky in that critical afternoon time.
REALLY curious to see how roads and such are actually effected Sunday/Monday - we are at something like 99.something totality with 100% about 40 minutes south of us.
I am keeping my fingers crossed for that day. We will be driving about 40 minutes to an hour - the last time we did this, folks did say traffic was going to be bad, but that wasn’t our experience at all. We did run into some traffic as we made our way back that night - but that was typical evening commute time traffic.
You’d really not drive 40 minutes to see a total eclipse? A friend who is in his 80s still regrets not driving 2 hours to an eclipse in 1954 (because it was at dawn and he was a teenager who didn’t like to get up early).
To be honest, it’s probably 30 minutes, maybe less with our location. Considering I have to work that day I think I can deal with 99+% totality and not get on the road.
@abasket if you didn’t see the totality in 2017 you really should drive that 40 minutes for it. There might be a traffic jam coming back, but dang it is amazing and 99% is not 99% as good. The totality is just amazing. I think I would regret it for the rest of my life if we hadn’t driven 4 hours to see the one in 2017. Unfortunately life circumstances are going to keep us home this time around but go, you won’t regret it!
It’s something, but not close to the totality. It will just be a neat hour or two but not close to the totality.
“Laverne Biser, 105, has traveled to several US states and a handful of foreign countries to watch [more than a dozen solar eclipses].The 8 April eclipse, slated to pass over his home in Fort Worth, Texas, could be his last one. “It’s something beautiful to see,” he said. “You’ll say: ‘Oh … I want to see more of these.’””
We drove 6 hours for the annular eclipse in 2012 and 12 hours for the total eclipse in 2017. We didn’t bother with the 6 hour drive for the annular eclipse last October, but are driving ~2000 miles for next week’s total eclipse.
Appreciating all the posts about how I will miss out on life if I don’t see 100% totality. Not everyone can arrange their home life and work life to accommodate every bucket list item. Like most things, I can be happy enough with what I have reasonable access to.
