Total Solar Eclipse: Post images/Videos of surroundings,traffic,eclipse

[WeatherGuesser]

Tick-tock.

48 hours.

[WeatherGuesser]

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Paducah KY
249 PM CDT Sat Aug 19 2017


...Eclipse Forecast...

The 12Z guidance continues to develop convection over portions of
southeast Missouri by midday Monday and then attempts to build it
northeast into southwest Illinois in the afternoon. Of course,
these models have no clue about the eclipse, so if this is pure
heat of the day stuff, guidance is most likely overdone in the
total eclipse area. Have limited PoPs mainly to slight chances.

Temperatures on Monday may not be quite as hot as Sunday, but the
humidity will likely be worse. As the sun resumes full power
after the eclipse, portions of southeast Missouri and southern
Illinois could see heat indices 100-105 and that could lead to
some isolated to scattered convection. Also wonder if a
differential heating boundary may develop and focus convection along
the edge of the totality area. Lots of things to consider for the
diurnal/convective trends. Will continue the Special Weather
Statement for near Advisory level heat and humidity expected
Sunday and Monday.

At this time, it appears that west Kentucky, especially the Lakes
and Pennyrile regions, will have the best weather (least clouds,
heat and humidity) for viewing the eclipse.

[weathaguyry]

I don't know, I think that maybe the sun being covered will lessen the effects of daytime heating, and that clouds will not be as widespread as forecast.

[cycloneye]

I don't know, I think that maybe the sun being covered will lessen the effects of daytime heating, and that clouds will not be as widespread as forecast.

That is a very good point.The only thing is the whole eclipse will last around 3 hours and maybe not enough cooling occurs.

[bamajammer4eva]

I don't know, I think that maybe the sun being covered will lessen the effects of daytime heating, and that clouds will not be as widespread as forecast.

Im surprised a 2 minute drop in sunlight would affect heating even in the areas of totallity but NWS Tallahassee is even forecasting temps to be a few degrees cooler here where we will only be 87% blocked which doesn't make sense since we won't notice anything here without glasses supposedly. My understanding is that the whole reason eclipses are so dangerous on the eyes is because for us 100% of the sunlight will be beaming down through the 13% of the sun that isn't blocked like covering 87% of a water faucet causes all the water to spray harder out the other 13% that is unblocked.

Here is Tallahassee Eclipse talk

Given the ample moisture on Monday afternoon combined with moderate
instability, cloud cover should become fairly widespread as
scattered showers and thunderstorms develop across our area. As a
result, it may be difficult to see the solar eclipse. However, there
should be breaks in the clouds in some areas, and the decrease in
solar radiation during the peak eclipse time could cause some minor
temperature decreases across our area. As a result of this effect
combined with increasing cloud cover, high temperatures should be a
couple degrees cooler across our area on Monday than on Sunday. Hot
and very humid conditions will still persist each day, resulting in
maximum heat indices near 105 on Sunday and around 100 on Monday.

Also...Wow! How are the weather models picking up on this???? I thought they only factored in the atmosphere with no influence from space occurrences

 https://twitter.com/SsbenjStan/status/899124108822171648

[northjaxpro]

Good morning everyone! Well, we are now on the eve of the Great American Total Solar Eclipse! I am preparing to head out to travel a bit later this morning. I just checked the latest forecast discussions for South Carolina out of the NWS offices from Greenville/Spartanburg, Columbia and Charleston .

Monday(tomorrow) is going to be challenging for maximizing odds for viewing the eclipse, mainly in the southeast part of the state. I have contingencies in place to act accordingly, based on weather conditions. As it stands currently, the greatest percentages for clouds and possible showers are in the Charleston forecast area, with 30% on Monday. GFS shows a possible inverted trough near and off shore the GA and SC during the day leading up to the total solar eclipse.

The Greenville and Columbia mets are fairly.confident with the EURO in that it has the upper level ridge building into the upstate region and SC Midlands region during Monday. Greenville is calling for sunny skies on Monday and Columbia metro area is only placing a 20% chance by 18Z, the peak time of the eclipse.

Based on my gut instincts and after analyzing the latest runs early this morning, the farther north and northwest within the path, (away from the coast) the better the chances will be for decent viewing for this event. My best tip for those joining me to view the eclipse in South Carolina: Check the afternoon forecast packages later today, which is generally released by the weather forecast offices(WFOs) from 2-4 pm. Cloud cover and possible showers may be a concern along the SC coastal region and the Low Country region in the Charleston metro area and surrounding communitites during Monday.

Traffic is expected to be extremely heavy across the entire South Carolina region, especially the Columbia and Charleston metro areas. So, if you have contingencies in place and weather forces to consider using them to maximize viewing this eclipse, I definitely would not waste too much time to act on them.

Safe travels to everyone out there making the journey beginning today to the path of totality from Oregon to South Carolina. Please, of course do not forget your eclipse glasses!

I will check back hopefully again after I position myself at my destination late today or tonight.

[cycloneye]

Hopefully in SC things are clear but this does not look good.

@NWSCharlestonSC
The system near the east coast of FL this AM could interfere with our view of the #eclipse. Latest sky forecast: http://www.weather.gov/chs/eclipse

 https://twitter.com/NWSCharlestonSC/status/899195770351624192

[northjaxpro]

Yeah, that is the trough I discussed in my earlier post above which GFS is forecast to move N/NW through tomorrow, and be positioned near or just off the South Carolina coast. I am watching this very closely obviously.

[tolakram]

Good morning everyone!

I agree, northwest is best.

GFS cloud forecast looks ok (high clouds) for where we are going in the KY/TN area.

[tolakram]

 https://twitter.com/RyanMaue/status/899110938908995589

[cycloneye]

For San Juan,Puerto Rico,we will have 84% of the sun covered.Hopefully the weather cooperates.

[Kennethb]

Traveled Saturday from Baton Rouge and now at my sister's house in Buford George, on the NE outskirts of Atlanta. Very fortunate that the weather appears to be about as favorable as you could get for August 21. Currently we are planning out headed to Simpsonvile SC at 6:00 am Monday morning. I am still concerned this may be not be early enough. Any comments from ya'll who are more familiar with I-85 in these areas are appreciated. I do have some maps so I can travel off interstate roads if needed.

[weathaguyry]

I traveled all the way from New York to Tennessee, and early tomorrow morning we will make the 2 hour drive to North Carolina, I just pray that the mountains will not enhance convection like the NWS is saying it might.

[WeatherGuesser]

My opinion is that you need to travel to and be at viewing destination today so you can be ready first thing in the morning and avoid the roads tomorrow entirely. And then probably wait until late tomorrow or Tuesday to begin the return.

[tolakram]

We are leaving at 3am tomorrow morning, earlier if I see google traffic show problems. I expect a lot of back roads and I'm not sure if we can make it back in one day or not. Water, food, blankets, etc all packed.

[WeatherGuesser]

For those who insist on traveling tomorrow:

Remember that even a single blown tire can cause a multi-mile, multi-hour traffic jam. Temperatures in many areas are expected to be in the 90s with Heat Indices in the low 100s. You do NOT want to be stuck on an Interstate freeway in those conditions at all, let alone without supplies. Carry an extra cooler or two with cold drinks and foods. I have seen cases where traffic jams have lasted over night, so you should have extra medications on hand if you need them. Do not expect any traffic jams to be cleared quickly. There have been many cases where emergency vehicles haven't even been able to get to scene quickly due to traffic. If you get sick in a vehicle in traffic, they may not be able to get to you.

[WeatherGuesser]

We are leaving at 3am tomorrow morning, earlier if I see google traffic show problems.

Are you familiar with this:

http://kytc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webapp ... 6cd0f9d45d

I think they have a mobile version too.


This one is weather stations and conditions: http://rwis.kytc.ky.gov/ There used to be some traffic cameras, but I don't know if they still work.

[tolakram]

We are leaving at 3am tomorrow morning, earlier if I see google traffic show problems.

Are you familiar with this:

http://kytc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webapp ... 6cd0f9d45d

I think they have a mobile version too.


This one is weather stations and conditions: http://rwis.kytc.ky.gov/ There used to be some traffic cameras, but I don't know if they still work.

No, that is nice, thanks. I had the mobile version installed a few years ago when needing to drive in a snowstorm. It didn't work very well but I think I'll install it again, just in case it has more updated info than google.

I expect total gridlock on the highways but I can't help but wonder if this has been a tad overhyped. We will find out soon enough!

[LarryWx]

I wonder if enough people are going to be scared away due to the traffic hype to keep the traffic from getting too bad in at least some areas. This is very hard to predict as analogs are lacking and traffic conditions will vary widely from location to location. This reminds me of something Yogi Berra once said: "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded." Could that end up happening in many areas?
Perhaps it won't be as bad as feared in some areas leading up to it due to enough folks going early and allowing the traffic to be spread out but maybe still bad just afterward as many rush home at the same time??

[WeatherGuesser]

^^ Consider traffic around Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, etc. And that's something people do every year, not for a so-called once in a lifetime experience. We can all hope for less of a mess, but we'll know more by Tuesday.

The only thing I can be absolutely certain of is that I will not be stuck in traffic.