Total solar eclipse in Ohio: Live updates
Thanks for Joining Ideastream Public Media for coverage of this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event over Northeast Ohio. This live blog is no longer being updated. For more on the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse, visit our website at ideastream.org.
Ready to recycle those eclipse glasses?
Don't throw your used eclipse glasses in the trash! Due to the mixed material nature of the glasses (cardstock and solar film), they can't be added to your curbside recycling, according to Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District.
Instead, there's a proper way to get rid of your glasses, and it's as easy as dropping them off at one of the locations listed below.
Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District is collaborating with Astronomers Without Borders to collect eclipse glasses, which will be vetted for quality and reused at future solar eclipse events worldwide. The rest will be managed by a special recycler who will separate the solar film and paper cardstock.
- All branches of Cleveland Public Libraries. Drop box available until April 21. Find a library branch.
- All branches of Cuyahoga County Public Libraries. Drop box available until April 21. Find a library branch.
- Bay Village: Cleveland Metroparks Huntington Reservation. Drop-off at the eclipse viewing event on April 8 only.
- Beachwood: Beachwood Community Center, 25225 Fairmount Blvd. Drop box available until April 14.
- Bedford: City of Bedford Ellenwood Recreation Center, 124 Ellenwood Avenue. Drop-off after Total Solar Eclipse Ellenwood Backyard Watch Party.
- Berea: Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. Drop-off after Ohio State University Extension 4-H Great American Eclipse event.
- Brecksville: City of Brecksville Blossom Hill, 4450 Oakes Road. Drop-off at the Solar Eclipse Central event.
- Brecksville: Cleveland Metroparks Brecksville Nature Center, 9000 Chippewa Creek Drive. Drop box available until April 21.
- Chagrin Falls: Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Nature Center, 401 Buttermilk Falls Parkway. Drop box available until April 21.
- Cleveland: Bookhouse Brewing, 1526 W. 25th St. Drop-off at the Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Party.
- Cleveland: Case Western Reserve University, 11169 East Blvd. Drop-off at the Eclipse Watch Party.
- Cleveland: Cleveland Metroparks Lakefront Reservation, Edgewater Park. Drop-off at the eclipse viewing event on April 8 only.
- Cleveland: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way. Drop box available until April 21.
- Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 10820 East Blvd. Drop box at Total on the Oval viewing event on April 8.
- Cleveland: Cleveland State University, Michael Schwartz Library, 2121 Euclid Ave. Drop box available until April 19.
- Cleveland: Cuyahoga County Administration HQ, 2079 E. 9th St. Drop box in the main lobby April 9-April 23.
- Cleveland: Greater Cleveland Partnership, 1240 Huron Road E. Drop box available until April 14.
- Cleveland: Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 S. Park Blvd. Drop box available until April 30.
- Cleveland: Progressive Field, 2401 Ontario St. Drop-off on April 8 only.
- Cleveland: Truss Cleveland, 2061 W. 25th St. Drop-off at the Truss Eclipse Watch Party.
- Cleveland Heights: Heights Libraries Coventry Village Branch, 1925 Coventry Road. Drop box available until April 21.
- Cleveland Heights: Heights Libraries Lee Road Branch, 2345 Lee Road. Drop box available until April 21.
- Cleveland Heights: Heights Libraries Noble Neighborhood Branch, 2940 Noble Road. Drop box available until April 21.
- Cuyahoga Heights: Cleveland Metroparks Canal Way Center, 4524 E. 49th St. Drop box available until April 21.
- Euclid: City of Euclid Municipal Center, 585 E. 222nd St. Drop box available until April 30.
- Euclid: Euclid High School Community Stadium, 711 E. 222nd St. Drop-off at the eclipse viewing event.
- Garfield Heights: Solid Waste District HQ, 4750 E. 131 St. Drop-off Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Lyndhurst: Drop box location TBD after the eclipse event.
- Moreland Hills: Lang Pavilion at Forest Ridge, 3800 Chagrin River Road. Drop-off at Solar Eclipse Community Event.
- North Olmsted: Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Parkway. Drop box available until April 21.
- North Royalton: North Royalton High School Serpentini Chevrolet Stadium, 6579 Royalton Road. Drop-off at the Solar Eclipse Bash.
- Parma: Cleveland Metroparks Watershed Stewardship Center, 2277 W. Ridgewood Drive. Drop box available until April 21.
- Parma Heights: City of Parma Heights, 6281 Pearl Road. Drop box available until April 21.
- Rocky River: Rocky River Public Library, 1600 Hampton Road. Drop box at the library for a few weeks following the eclipse event.
- Shaker Heights: Shaker Heights Public Library. Drop box at the library for a few weeks following the eclipse event.
- Shaker Heights: Thornton Park, 3301 Warrensville Center Road. Drop-off at the eclipse viewing event.
- University Heights: Heights Libraries University Heights Branch, 13866 Cedar Road. Drop box available until April 21.
- Westlake: Market Square at Crocker Park, 239 Market St. Drop box available April 8-14.
- Westlake: Westlake Recreation Center, 28955 Hilliard Blvd. Drop box available until April 8-14.
Traffic update: No major delays — for now
Traffic leaving Downtown Cleveland just before 5 p.m. is proceeding without any major delays and is consistent with the pace of normal evening rush hour, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Brent Kovacs, ODOT’s public information officer for Cuyahoga County, said traffic heading Downtown for the Cleveland Guardians' home opener is also proceeding without any major slowdowns. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 p.m.
Worried about eclipse damage to your eyes? Don't panic
Tens of millions of Americans will have spent the day staring at a total solar eclipse, and at least a few of them may become worried that they inadvertently damaged their eyes.
But experts say there's no need to panic — the vast majority of eclipse viewers are probably fine. And even if somebody did strain their eyes, the effects could be temporary.
During the 2017 total solar eclipse it's estimated that 150 million Americans viewed the event. There were around 100 documented cases of eye damage across all of America and Canada, according to Ralph Chou, an expert on eclipse eye safety with the University of Waterloo in Canada.
In the rare case that someone does damage their eyes, that damage usually shows up as a blurry spot in the field of vision, hours or up to a day after watching the eclipse. In about half of cases, the problem fixes itself, but permanent damage can sometimes occur.
Cheers and awe after eclipse totality across Northeast Ohio
Crowds could be heard cheering across Northeast Ohio as the moment of totality occurred.
Inside Progressive Field in Downtown Cleveland, usher Bill Voit cheered loudly.
"I've never seen anything like it before," he marveled. "I could never imagine it. All of a sudden, the sun's gone and it was as dark this afternoon as it was at 10:00 last night. It's just an incredible experience."
Chase Gusler attended the Cleveland Guardians game with his parents, Mike and Molly. They've attended the home opener every year for the past 17 years, but this was the first time they've brought their kids — and the first time an eclipse has occurred.
Chase said totality was his favorite moment of the eclipse.
"It was definitely very memorable, being with our children," Molly said.
William Beavers traveled from Michigan to view the eclipse with his dad. The Avon Lake watch party exceeded his expectations, he said.
"I looked at it in my glasses. I also took photos using the electronic telescope, and I looked at the pinhole eclipse viewer, too," he said.
Across town, Cynthia Rose, 71, watched the eclipse from the Cleveland Heights Community Center.
"Somewhat of an eerie feeling, but also an awesome feeling," she described.
Leondra Taylor, 30, made the eclipse a full event for her family at the community center.
"I was the one over here screaming," Taylor laughed. "It was so cool. It's so amazing to see what God has done."
Jan Ridgeway, who serves on the Cleveland Police Commission and lives on Cleveland’s East Side, was at the Total at the Oval event at Wade Oval in University Circle with her family. She and her daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren watched with wonder as the moon covered the sun.
"It was really neat to see this and to be able to see this in community, you know, with other people around us and to witness their reaction to it as well," she noted.
Phylindia Gant drove up from Gainesville, Florida, and also watched at Wade Oval. She’s getting her Ph.D. in geology and is passionate about science.
"I had such a great time. Seeing that totality was amazing," she said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime event because Cleveland's not going to have another total eclipse for 400 years, so I'm so glad that I got to see it this time."
Down in Akron, Dave Hodkinson said he enjoyed being able to see the full totality this time.
"I'd seen one back in the early 90s, and I didn't really get a good look at it," he said.
Puya Haddidian, of Stow, watched the eclipse through binoculars at Cascade Locks Park.
"It really was fantastic, especially if you had a bit more advanced equipment. You could see the corona, you could see the stars, it was the total eclipse," Haddidian said.
Debbie Lawson decided last night to travel to Portage Lakes State Park from Marietta to see the eclipse in totality.
She's a veteran and has been struggling with PTSD recently, so she said, this was a moment of joy. The eclipse was a good reminder to be spontaneous and enjoy nature, she added.
"Travel. Go places. There are parks all over the place that you can go to. You can camp. You can rest," she said.
Pittsburgh man seeing his third eclipse at Portage Lakes
Tom Batty is a bit of an eclipse chaser. The Pittsburgh native and his wife are visiting Portage Lakes State Park for Tom's third eclipse. He's also seen a total eclipse in Mexico in 1991 and the total eclipse in 2017.
Kevin Fisher, from Detroit, and Susan Homes, from Madison Heights, Michigan, have never seen totality.
They decided to make a trip out of the eclipse and scouted out parks yesterday. They chose this one based on traffic and crowds.
Kevin Wilson visited from Silver Spring, Maryland, to try out his photography skills. He traveled to Northeast Ohio with his wife and son.
He said he brought a packet of information about how to photograph the eclipse but doesn’t have high hopes for his skills.
The Smith family came from Baltimore, Maryland. They decided to visit the Akron area since it’s drivable and thought it would be fun to take their kids.
Video: Drone footage shows crowds in Avon Lake
Drone footage over Avon Lake High School shows crowds gathering to view the eclipse.
Boshy Deak popped over from Westlake to view the eclipse in a community setting.
"Memorial Stadium, can't beat that view from here," Deak said.
Rachita Singh and Mridul Ghildyal brought their daughter Anika to view the eclipse.
Rachita is pregnant and went against common cultural beliefs in India that advise against women viewing the eclipse while expecting. The couple said they did their own research and expect everything to be fine.
"I'm not expecting anything to happen," Singh said. "It's just interesting, like the kinds of things people, our parents have been telling us."
Baseball and an eclipse
It's Opening Day at Progressive Field and Guardians fans Landon and Luke Johnson are excited for their fourth home opener.
"We thought it was gonna be a little more hectic than it has been," Landon said. "Were planning on having a lot of traffic, but we got up here pretty easily and got here."
Being able to see the eclipse is a bonus, he said.
"It's really cool to be able to watch it from the stadium."
Outside, at least one vendor is selling eclipse glasses for $2 a piece.
Luke added, "It's really cool that these two things would land on the same day."
City of Cleveland ready for eclipse traffic
The city of Cleveland is warning about traffic delays and parking restrictions that will affect anyone visiting for the eclipse and the Cleveland Guardians home opener.
The city has traffic detail officers dispatched across the city at lights and ramps helping people get where they are going safely.
Tailgating rules and regulations are in place at city parking lots.
The city has posted more traffic and parking guidelines online.
Crowds fill in at Wade Oval
Hundreds have turned out so far at Wade Oval in University Circle for the Total at the Oval event.
Kids are among the hundreds of guests decorating eclipse glasses, making bracelets and drawing chalk art.
Maya Gibbs, a student at Case Western Reserve University, said the school is also celebrating with fun activities, such as jewelry making and scavenger hunts.
Monica Marshall, astronomer at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, has spent the day helping visitors from all over the country look at the sun through special telescopes.
"The coolest telescope we have out there is our new Coronado solar telescope, which looks at a very specific wavelength of light, hydrogen alpha. And it makes it so you can see the chromosphere, the lower atmosphere of the sun," she explained.
Eclipse central at the Great Lakes Science Center
The Great Lakes Science Center has become a central hub for all things eclipse-related in Downtown Cleveland.
Cynthia E. Crawford traveled to the science center with her husband and their two children from West Bloomfield, Michigan.
"Look at all the different people coming together," she said. "What greater expression of love than to see people coming together, seeing God's creation align in a way that brings glory to Him."
Ken Jacobs, also from Michigan, saw an eclipse in Nashville with his wife seven years ago. He said she was hesitant about the spectacle at first but quickly changed her mind.
"When the event was over, she said, 'We're going to the next one.' It's life-changing," he said.
Jacobs added that experiencing an eclipse will stick with people forever.
"Have you ever been in a total eclipse? Once you experience one, you can't wait to do your next," he said. "Literally for most people, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the difference between 99% and 100% is literally day and night."
Emily Young is a Montana resident who came up for the eclipse with family from Columbus. She experienced an eclipse in 2017 on a mountain in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she heard animals making noises during the event.
"I think that we'll get that same, like 'oohs' and 'ahhs' and freaking out, but from the humans this time, which will be really cool to be around so many people that are here for the same reason and all pumped for it," Young said.
Soundtrack of the solar eclipse
The solar eclipse is being billed as a potential life-altering experience, so don't forget the soundtrack for such an important moment.
What songs are suitable for a solar eclipse? "Don't Look Back into the Sun" by The Libertines? "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden? There's always Bonnie Tyler's go-to classic, "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
The Rock Hall has assembled an official SolarFest 2024 Spotify playlist with 120 songs to choose from. There’s something for everyone, from Tyler’s classic to The Beatles and “Starlight” for the Swifties.
Pups at Portage Lakes State Park
Nicole Cross and her dogs Buddy and Chip traveled from Philadelphia to view the eclipse at Portage Lakes State Park.
"It's really important to just spend your time connecting to where you've come from, which is our home plant Earth," Cross said.
She chose Ohio as her destination based on the weather.
"Well, we looked at the cloud coverage issue, and initially, I was going to go to upstate New York 'cause that was probably my closest shot. And it looked like Ohio was going to be less cloudy," Cross said.
Cross saw the solar eclipse in 2017 in Wyoming and wanted to experience it again.
"I mean, I'm 60. This is the last one of my lifetime in North America, so I would have to travel to another continent to see another total solar eclipse."
Emma Turner from Bellville, Ohio, brought her dog Rizzo so they could be in the path of totality. She's not sure how Rizzo will react to the eclipse.
"We've heard things about animals, but we think he might just think it's nighttime for a little bit," Turner said.
Annie Carse traveled from Pittsburgh to be in the path of totality.
"In Pittsburgh we're not full totality, and I've seen the eclipse before but not when it's full totality, so it's the closest location," she said.
Her dad, John Carse, joked Annie and her sister dragged him to Portage Lakes. He's not as excited as they are to see the eclipse, but he's happy to be spending time with his children, he said.
Saying 'I do' in Akron
Two lucky couples made the day even more memorable as they said "I do" off of Akron's Towpath Trail.
Akron Municipal Court Judge David Hamilton officiated the weddings of Timmy Bryan and Kylie Thanasiu, followed by Toni and Ryan Arce.
The couples won the opportunity to be married during the eclipse as part of Akron Municipal Court's Out-of-this-World Couple Contest, in which couples had to pen an essay on why they wanted to be married during the eclipse.
Toni Arce said she applied to be married today because her new husband, Ryan, and his oldest son love physics and space. She added there is a lot of symbolism from the eclipse as well, like the “ring” around the sun when the moon eclipses it.
The weddings kicked off the Cascade Locks Park Association's Solar Eclipse Party at the Mustill Store Museum from 1-4 p.m.
Meng Yu and her husband, Feng Li, won't be renewing their vows today, but the Washington, D.C., couple said they drove to Akron for the eclipse because they thought Cleveland might be too crowded.
"We're lucky. We're very lucky here," Yu said.
The pair decided on Cascade Locks Park, where they plan to hike on the trail before the eclipse.
Cleveland Heights watchers aiming to avoid Downtown
An eclipse watch party is set to start at the Cleveland Heights Community Center at 1:30 p.m., but residents are starting to show early.
Shawn Johnson is a Cleveland Heights resident who said he's aiming to enjoy the event with family while avoiding the crowds in Downtown Cleveland.
"No, that's all right. I don't want to be crowded in like that, hard to park," he said, noting that he lives just around the corner from the community center. "This, here, is free parking. Downtown, you have to pay for parking and so on."
Johnson added that his family is more excited about the eclipse than he is. He'll be watching with his wife and two children.
"To me, it doesn't matter," he said. "I'm just being a family man."
Ralph Ortiz and his daughter Isabella came prepared. The Cleveland Heights residents showed up to the community center with eclipse shirts, viewing tools, snacks and a picnic blanket.
"Make her enjoy time outside and just see something that's once-in-a-lifetime for a while," Ortiz said.
The pair attended a Solar Eclipse Night at a Cleveland Monsters hockey game and decided the community center event would be worth checking out.
When asked for her thoughts, Isabella gave a thumbs up.
Khalil Seren, mayor of Cleveland Heights, attended the event and reminded people to recycle their eclipse glasses afterward.
"There are some specific ways you have to recycle the eclipse glasses, so make sure you're caring for the environment as much as you're enjoying it," he said.
Snack brands sweeten the eclipse experience
Monday's eclipse has become a major marketing opportunity, especially for snack brands.
SunChips will drop an exclusive flavor Monday but fans will have to act fast. The limited edition Solar Eclipse Pineapple Habanero and Black Bean Spicy Gouda flavor will be available online for four minutes and 27 seconds only — the same time as the eclipse's totality.
The MoonPie brand has been teasing a Solar Snackdown since March. Fans can get a special Solar Eclipse Survival Kit featuring mini versions of the popular marshmallow treats.
IT’S GONNA BE A TOTAL SOLAR SNACKDOWN pic.twitter.com/8zkQHzuuLZ
— MoonPie (@MoonPie) March 26, 2024
You donut want to miss Krispy Kreme and Oreo's collaboration on the Total Solar Eclipse Donut, an Original Glazed Krispy Kreme donut dipped in black chocolate icing and topped with silver sprinkles, Oreo buttercream and an Oreo cookie.
Brewnuts, located on Cleveland's West Side, is also baking up eclipse donuts. Special flavors include MoonPie, galaxy frosted and Milky Way Bullseye.
Sonic is offering a Blackout Slush Float, which is cotton candy and dragon fruit flavored. It's topped with vanilla soft serve and galaxy-themed sprinkles.
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, grab a slice of Total Eclipse of the Hut, Pizza Hut's $12 large pizza deal. The promotion is good for "Any large. Any recipe. Any toppings," according to social media ads. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven is offering $3 whole pizzas for its 7NOW Gold Pass subscribers.
Insomnia Cookies is going big with Moon Cookie Cakes, a giant cookie assembled with two flavors to look like the moon and sun.
Time for lunch!
No crowds yet at Wade Oval
Wade Oval in University Circle is relatively calm as of 11 a.m. People are starting to arrive — a mix of ages from all over — Cleveland families but also a group of retirees from New Jersey and students from a STEM high school in Maryland.
Bob Goren traveled from the Philadelphia area to explore the city and view the total eclipse with friends. It's Goren and his wife’s second total eclipse.
"We decided we wanted to come back to see Cleveland again and because it had a little bit better chance and was within driving range," he said. "And two years ago we made our hotel reservations."
The group of friends set out their chairs, forming a half circle early to beat the rush.
David Oliver, of Cleveland Heights, said he arrived at Wade Oval to get a good spot, but parking prices scared him off. He instead headed to Cleveland Heights Community Center, where a watch party is set to begin at 1:30 p.m.
"Even the churches are charging to park, 20 bucks or something like that," Oliver said. "And then it goes from $20 to $80, and then Downtown, don't even think about it."
Organizers of the Total on the Oval watch party expect several thousand attendees but there's nowhere near that many at this time.
Overcast update: Clouds are inching east
The National Weather Service's latest satellite check indicates that the clouds currently lingering over Northeast Ohio are inching eastward.
"Thinner cirrus clouds over the Ohio Valley will likely overspread OH this afternoon. For now, they're quite thin," NWS posted at 10:29 a.m.
NWS predicts afternoon temperatures to be in the 60s to lower 70s.
Time for a satellite check. The good news is that the back edge of an opaque cloud deck has reached the I-77 corridor and is inching east. Thinner cirrus clouds over the Ohio Valley will likely overspread OH this afternoon. For now, they're quite thin. #OHwx #PAwx pic.twitter.com/CLYoun2fKw
— NWS Cleveland (@NWSCLE) April 8, 2024
Campers fill West Branch State Park ahead of eclipse
The 200 camp sites at West Branch State Park in Ravenna were filled with RVs and tents over the weekend. One of the large, group sites will be hosting 35 people from Michigan and Tennessee when the skies go dark on Monday. It’s also when Katie Bee, from Ann Arbor, will celebrate her birthday - rain or shine.
“There’s frequently snow on my birthday,” she said. “It’s always hit or miss. 2020 is the only nice weather birthday I can remember. We’re happy with what we’re getting.”
Jake Esola frequently brings his family to West Branch, yet they’ll be watching the eclipse from home in Atwater, Ohio.
“We would have stayed longer, but the place is packed,” he said. “We couldn’t get a spot, and we’re actually going home right before the eclipse.”
At the site next to Esola, Alvaro Mediavilla and family were finishing up a spring break trip which included a visit to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A native of Spain, he also planned to leave before the eclipse. He’s a teacher in Delaware, which isn’t in the path of totality. So, school is in session and he said he plans to take his family to the Franklin Institute Museum to view the skies.
“It’s not going to be as good as here, and we wish we could be here,” he said. “Unfortunately, that’s the best we can get.”
How to make a pinhole camera to view the eclipse
Andy Pallotta from the Great Lakes Science Center demonstrates an easy way to make a pinhole camera using materials you probably have at home.
If we could talk to the animals, what would they tell us about the eclipse?
How will animals and insects react to the sudden change in light and temperature when the moon covers the sun Monday afternoon?
NASA and the Akron Zoo are working together to find out.
Simple tips to safely photograph the eclipse with your cellphone
For best results, use your phone's manual settings
If you've never fiddled with your camera's settings, now's a good time. You'll want to reduce the exposure, at least during the partial eclipse phase, and also to set focus to "infinity." (Here's how to access manual controls for an iPhone or Android.)
If you have a second pair of solar eclipse glasses, you can use them as a filter to cover the camera lens on your phone, says freelance photographer Randall Benton. It will protect your phone's camera from possible damage from long exposure to direct sunlight and give you a more dramatic shot.
"You want to keep those solar glasses as close against the lens as possible, because most of [them] have a mirror surface on both sides," he explains. If any light leaks in from the sides, "it can reflect off of the back side of the filter and create glare or funny reflections that can spoil the image."
If you're in the path of totality, don't forget to remove the filter when the magic moment arrives.
"Try to zoom in, because you're not going to hurt your eyes looking at totality. It's only when the disk of the sun is visible that you really shouldn't be looking at it directly without filtration," says John Meader, director of Northern Stars Planetarium and Educational Services in Fairfield, Maine.
➡️ Read more photography tips from NPR.
The eclipse could change your life in under 4 minutes
The April 8 total eclipse provides a once in several lifetimes opportunity to witness such a phenomenon in Northeast Ohio, according to local experts. This is because the last time a total eclipse occurred in the region was 1806 with the next occurrence not happening until 2444.
Here's what to look for:
"You notice a significant and noticeable temperature change on your skin," Hartenstine said, noting that the temperature drops about 10 degrees.
People will also notice wildlife behaving differently.
There will also be lines of shadows, known as shadow bands, running across the ground, he added.
Less than four minutes later, the totality ends.
➡️ Here's why you shouldn't miss Cleveland's first total eclipse since 1806!
Follow the path of totality
Loading...
Listen to NPR's special eclipse coverage from 2 - 4 p.m. on 89.7 WKSU or listen live at ideastream.org or download and listen on the Ideastream app.
Sonar devices give low vision, blind Ohioans the ability to hear solar eclipse go by
When the moon fully eclipses the sun through parts of the state Monday, most viewers will shift their eyes to the sky. Some low and no vision Ohioans, however, will be using another physical sense to fully take in the astronomical event: their ears.
The LightSound, a project out of Harvard University, converts light intensity to melodic tones that sound like a mix of a flute and a clarinet. When the tiny plastic device senses less direct sunlight through a circular sensor, bassier tones begin to ring out.
In 2017, only three existed. But seven years later, as the country prepares for another solar eclipse to pass through, more than 700 are in place for the astronomical event. Of those, 29 will be found at Ohio Department of Natural Resources properties in the path of totality, and two more will be found at national park properties in western Ohio.
➡️Read more about the LightSound technology.
Some clouds expected mid-afternoon
The National Weather Service's latest is forecasting high cirrus clouds to move in by mid-afternoon. Check the NWS Tweet below for hour-by-hour cloud cover details in your eclipse viewing area.
Rain and low-to-mid level clouds are moving through the region this morning. Rain will be gone by Noon with some lower clouds still lingering in far NE OH and NW PA. High cirrus clouds will move in by mid-afternoon. Temperatures across the region will be in the 60s to lower 70s. pic.twitter.com/IhakySZGSy
— NWS Cleveland (@NWSCLE) April 8, 2024
How to keep pets safe during the solar eclipse
While certain dogs may exhibit some of the behaviors they normally do when it starts to get dark outside, the eclipse is unlikely to directly affect pets in a significant way, says Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
But things like crowds and traffic can, which is why experts recommend leaving animals at home to be safe.
Carlson says there are steps that their humans should take to look out for them on such a hectic day — especially if anyone involved is traveling.
- Consider: Should Fido come or stay?
- Prepare for commotion and contingencies if you're traveling
- Don't waste your eclipse glasses on your pet
Protect your eyes when viewing the eclipse
Local health experts are warning anyone viewing the total eclipse to take precautions to protect their eyes from permanent damage due to the sun's ultraviolet rays.
Dr. Thomas Steinemann, a professor of ophthalmology at MetroHealth Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, and Dr. Palak Wall, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Akron Children's Hospital, said that looking at the eclipse without protective eyewear can lead to permanent vision damage.
Viewing the eclipse without protection "potentially can burn and scar your retina, particularly the central type of the retina that is called the macula or fovea," Steinemann said. "If you burn the center of the macula or the fovea and it's permanent, you're going to have a hole in your vision maybe for the rest of your life.”
This damage occurs with no pain. It can take a few hours to a few days after viewing the solar eclipse to realize the damage that has occurred, according to Prevent Blindness Ohio.
Steinemann said sunglasses are not sufficient to protect the eyes from looking at the eclipse. Instead, what's needed are specialized glasses with the designation ISO 12312-2, which means the glasses filter out ultraviolet light, he said, adding that eyewear without this designation should be avoided.
➡️ Read more about eclipse eye damage and how to safely view the eclipse.
Tips for travelers on eclipse day
For in-state travelers and out-of-state visitors, officials recommend packing their glasses and their patience:
- Decide on a viewing location ahead of time, and get to it early
- Don't treat the sides of roads as a viewing location
- Fill your gas tank frequently, and if you drive an electric vehicle, charge it fully
- Go old-school with directions—if cell phone signal gets dicey, have a paper map on reserve
- Do not park on privately-owned land (empty lots or farm fields) unless arrangements have been made with the property owner
- Be mindful of parking in grassy areas — the ground may be soft, and your vehicle may get stuck in mud
- Have an emergency kit on hand, including snacks, drinks, cash and chargers
- Be aware of where to shelter, just in case
- Do not call 911 for traffic jams unless there is an emergency
- When it's time to look at the sky, throw on a pair of certified eclipse glasses—sunglasses aren't a proper stand-in
Classes are canceled or dismissing early across Northeast Ohio today
The majority of schools across Northeast Ohio are closed to avoid traffic and other issues expected when thousands of visitors flock to the region to witness the total solar eclipse.
School districts from Akron to Cleveland to Wooster have said they’re closing for good reason. The total eclipse — roughly four minutes of total darkness — will reach its peak around 3:15 p.m., right around the time many schools are dismissing students. The districts say Northeast Ohio will be flooded with visitors, presenting traffic problems for busses and potentially overloaded cellphone towers causing worries about phone and internet service.
Are schools missing out on a teaching moment? Read more about why some say, yes.
Mostly sunny Monday afternoon, but clouds expected in eastern Ohio
The National Weather Service is forecasting a chance of showers, mainly before 8 a.m. Monday. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
☀️🌑 We're less than 24 hours out from #Eclipse2024! Lingering low level clouds slowly exit from west to east tomorrow morning. Spots along and east of I-77 may struggle to clear out in time for the eclipse. Some thin high level clouds approach tomorrow afternoon. #ohwx #pawx pic.twitter.com/NIjjqYEQwn
— NWS Cleveland (@NWSCLE) April 7, 2024
Its cloud cover forecast is about as opaque as the clouds expected Monday afternoon.
As we hone in on the cloud cover forecast for Monday afternoon we can leverage higher-resolution guidance to get a grasp on who is most likely to clear out the lower, more opaque clouds by 3 PM Monday vs who is more likely to still be mostly cloudy. Check it out! #OHwx #PAwx pic.twitter.com/EVu6farcY3
— NWS Cleveland (@NWSCLE) April 7, 2024