My Evolving Eclipse Plan (1 week out)
Added 2024-04-01 20:06:42 +0000 UTCThe eclipse is now seven days away, and I'm open to being anywhere from Mexico to Maine depending on the weather! (Remember to sign up for Astrospheric Pro - free for all Nebula Photos Patreon members for the eclipse)
My primary plan is still to be in Texas, but in the event I'm nowhere near Texas on eclipse day, I did want to give some advanced warning that I may need to cancel the 4/9 meetup. In the event I can't make it and need to cancel, I would give a couple days notice and let people know by email and text messages (for everyone that signed up for the meetup and gave me their phone #).
You can see my current travel planning / decision matrix below.
Friday, April 5th -
Drive from New Hampshire to Columbus, Ohio
Saturday, April 6th -
Columbus, Ohio - Look at weather forecasts for the entire eclipse path, and make a decision to continue South or stay put. If the forecasts hold some good news for Arkansas/Texas/Northern Mexico, I'll continue South. If the forecasts are pessimistic for Arkansas/Texas/Northern Mexico, I'd have to cancel the meetup at this point.
Sunday, April 7th -
Primary plan - arrive in Texas and decide whether to stay in Northern Texas OR travel on to Southern Texas / Northern Mexico.
Secondary plan - stay in the Midwest and pick the best option (IL, IN, OH).
Tertiary plan - drive back home (New Hampshire) and decide which of the New England options (NY, VT, NH, ME) looks best for the next morning.
Monday, April 8th -
At this point, I could be anywhere from Northern Mexico to Maine depending on where the forecasts have taken me, and hoping that all this eclipse chasing has worked out! :)
~Nico
Comments
I'm setting up right in my front yard
Jeff Ratino
2024-04-04 22:36:38 +0000 UTCI'm outside of Cleveland and have extra rooms.
Jeff Ratino
2024-04-04 22:31:05 +0000 UTCNot sure your plans for Tuesday now...I had RSVP'd but will not be attending now. hunting for better weather.
Pat Poling
2024-04-04 13:33:06 +0000 UTCI actually found three camping options in Arkansas tonight. I mulled one over near Conway then it was gone. So I tried to act on another tent site and someone reserved it while I was typing in my info. I wound up getting an RV spot at the same place (I'll be sleeping in a van) and now I have a back-up spot. This stuff is stressful and exciting at the same time.
Rich Marchbanks
2024-04-03 04:43:39 +0000 UTCI live in Greenville TX in Northern TX. I'm sitting 'light in the saddle' also. If the forecast looks good, Greenville would be a good place to go. The big sports complex will be open to viewing. Food trucks. No admission charge.
Ralph
2024-04-03 01:41:02 +0000 UTCLooking more and more like the NE United States will be the place to be. Still a week out, though! Texas looks bad... glad I didn't buy those tickets!
Christian Horner
2024-04-03 00:49:17 +0000 UTChttps://www.accuweather.com/en/solar-eclipse-2024/total-solar-eclipse-cloud-forecast-what-will-the-weather-be-like/1636042
Christopher Baker
2024-04-02 18:47:09 +0000 UTCThe last weather forecast I saw looks like Maine, where I live, might be the place with fewest clouds. So I think I'm staying local for this event, which is super handy. I live about 2 hours from totality (yes, under normal traffic). My brother lives in SE New Hampshire, so I'm planning to pick him up Sunday. I'm thinking that we're driving to Millinocket for anyone who is familar with Maine for totality. Can't wait. This will be my 2nd total solar eclipse that I've seen (went to Tennessee in 2017 for the first one).
Joshua Zukerman
2024-04-02 17:55:01 +0000 UTCRain and clouds for Texas? Making me depressed!
Dr.Les
2024-04-02 13:48:02 +0000 UTCIf you come back north to Erie Pa, let us know.
Tracey Sipes
2024-04-02 05:45:58 +0000 UTCHey Nico. I'll be in Kerrville, Central Texas. We have extra space. The forecast here is finicky... Let me know if you're rolling through.
Gerald Kleyn
2024-04-02 01:57:57 +0000 UTChttps://weather.com/science/space/news/2024-04-01-solar-eclipse-weather-forecast
Christopher Baker
2024-04-02 01:27:09 +0000 UTCI'm camping in Grafton OH, (https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/land/ohio-harmony-fields-forever-xryhomow?adults=1&children=0) which is SW of Cleveland. It's primitive camping (no porta potties, BYO), but there is still availability and the weather still looks good.
David Gamari
2024-04-02 00:17:01 +0000 UTChttps://nypost.com/2024/04/01/us-news/solar-eclipse-forecast-shows-who-has-best-chance-for-clear-skies-on-april-8/
Christopher Baker
2024-04-01 23:34:31 +0000 UTCI started noticing that things didn't look great here in Texas just over the weekend. That was always a possibility. Hopefully there will be breaks in the clouds, or the front that's coming through either is slow or fast to push through. Otherwise, New England here I come! In 2017, I drove the 1400 miles to Casper in about 36 hours. So I'm personally trying to wait as late as possible before heading out. (Trying to take into account traffic.). I'll probably decide if I'm heading out to the northeast Friday afternoon / Saturday morning...
Steven B
2024-04-01 23:27:13 +0000 UTCI have a big backyard in Englewood! Unobstructed view of the sun.
Jack Bernstein
2024-04-01 21:30:07 +0000 UTCI’m targeting Dayton
Lee Friedman
2024-04-01 20:56:40 +0000 UTC4/5 heading to Chatanooga, TN checking the weather there. My primary is Wright/Patterson AFB for the eclipse but the weather checks will occur at both locations and we may travel to a more optimal site.
Lee Friedman
2024-04-01 20:55:02 +0000 UTCHere is today's National Weather service briefing from San Antonio. They have a daily briefing at 10AM CDT. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_bgTr3PCAk
Rich Marchbanks
2024-04-01 20:41:34 +0000 UTCAndrew I seem to be getting similar forecasts from my organization. The irony being at the moment that Vermont might be the only clear spot in the US.
Rich Marchbanks
2024-04-01 20:39:28 +0000 UTCBased on the current weather models and my meteorological intuition, I am staying put in New England. I am trying to find key spots to set up that may not be directly impacted by terrain (terrain formed clouds) and using the lakes to my advantage for view and cloud suppression. Only issue is grid lock in New England will be exceptionally bad so trying to time when I am heading to my setup place.
Andrew Desrosiers
2024-04-01 20:32:04 +0000 UTCSounds good. Wish you luck. I will be heading towards Erie PA.
Jamie
2024-04-01 20:30:38 +0000 UTCIf you are in Ohio and the weather is good, I’ll be shooting from my house (3m12s totality). My friend has also invited me to Richmond, IN where his farm has 3m50sec totality. Good luck!
Jack Bernstein
2024-04-01 20:16:13 +0000 UTCThat's just my plan too, except coming from the other coast
Don BUERER
2024-04-01 20:16:07 +0000 UTCNico, That sounds like a good plan. You’ve got option given that you can work your way down the path of totality. My absolute departure deadline from California is April 5th, with no other options along my route for totality, so if it’s cloudy in the Austin area I might just settle for something out west with the partial phases.
Youssef Ismail
2024-04-01 20:16:03 +0000 UTCWe are in a go where necessarily plan too. When we looked this morning, Rochester, NY had the best weather LOL. Almost furthest ways from our Texas border plan.
Christopher Baker
2024-04-01 20:15:59 +0000 UTC
