Eclipse 2024: Live updates on the total solar eclipse in New York's Mohawk Valley

Utica Observer Dispatch
Updated ·3 min read

The 2024 solar eclipse is happening across North America today and the path of totality is happening right near Utica and will go cross over parts of the Mohawk Valley.

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth and either fully or partially blocking the sun's light in some areas, according to NASA.

Below is some quick information you should know about the eclipse. It will be updated as the day goes on with more information.

Eclipse photos

Here are a a quick handful of photos of Monday's eclipse, as seen in Utica and Rome.

A family gathers in Rome to watch Monday's eclipse.
A family gathers in Rome to watch Monday's eclipse.
The sky in Rome darkens Monday during the solar eclipse.
The sky in Rome darkens Monday during the solar eclipse.
A few people decided to take a ride on the Ferris wheel in the hockey village near the Adirondack Bank Center in downtown Utica on Monday afternoon as a novel way to see the eclipse.
A few people decided to take a ride on the Ferris wheel in the hockey village near the Adirondack Bank Center in downtown Utica on Monday afternoon as a novel way to see the eclipse.
A view of Monday's eclipse taken by the Adirondack Bank Center in downtown Utica.
A view of Monday's eclipse taken by the Adirondack Bank Center in downtown Utica.
People put on eclipse glasses to view the celestial event Monday afternoon in front of the Adirondack Bank Center in downtown Utica.
People put on eclipse glasses to view the celestial event Monday afternoon in front of the Adirondack Bank Center in downtown Utica.

Hockey village in Utica gets ready for eclipse

Views from the IIHF Subaru World Championship Village outside the Adirondack Bank Center on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Views from the IIHF Subaru World Championship Village outside the Adirondack Bank Center on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Views from the IIHF Subaru World Championship Village outside the Adirondack Bank Center on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Views from the IIHF Subaru World Championship Village outside the Adirondack Bank Center on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Volunteers hand out eclipse glasses at the Subaru World Championship Village, outside the Adirondack Bank Center, which is hosting the IIHF Women's World Championship in Utica, on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Volunteers hand out eclipse glasses at the Subaru World Championship Village, outside the Adirondack Bank Center, which is hosting the IIHF Women's World Championship in Utica, on Monday, April 8, 2024.
An out-of-town couple takes a look at the sky with eclipse glasses at the Subaru World Championship Village, outside the Adirondack Bank Center, which is hosting the IIHF Women's World Championship in Utica, on Monday, April 8, 2024.
An out-of-town couple takes a look at the sky with eclipse glasses at the Subaru World Championship Village, outside the Adirondack Bank Center, which is hosting the IIHF Women's World Championship in Utica, on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Old Forge is the place to be

Eclipse visitors are flocking to Old Forge in anticipation of this afternoon's solar eclipse. The Herkimer County hamlet is expected to receive close to three minutes of totality.

Visitors are heading to the Total Solar Eclipse Celebration, being held at the George T. Hidebrandt Center in the town of Webb. The field were the people are setting up are town lands on North Street, where recreational sports are played.

Here are some photos of how things currently look in Old Forge.

Visitors in Old Forge are getting ready to watch the upcoming solar eclipse Monday.
Visitors in Old Forge are getting ready to watch the upcoming solar eclipse Monday.
Various events are taking place Monday in Old Forge.
Various events are taking place Monday in Old Forge.
People and their pets are lining up at events in Old Forge on Monday as they await the eclipse.
People and their pets are lining up at events in Old Forge on Monday as they await the eclipse.
Traffic is rough in Old Forge due to Monday's eclipse.
Traffic is rough in Old Forge due to Monday's eclipse.

What is the eclipse weather forecast for the Utica region?

Keep checking our Accuweather forecast for the latest weather updates. And cross your fingers for clear skies!

How will your dog react during the eclipse?

Jeff Reibert, pet supplies buyer for CountryMax, a New York-based farm supply and feed store said in a release that on a normal day, dogs don’t try to look at the sun, making it unlikely they will during the eclipse. But like their human counterparts if they do there could be damage to their eyes. The advice is to keep pets inside during the eclipse. He noted to watch for excessive barking, cowering or signs of stress.

What's going on across the country?

Traffic heading towards Lake Placid pass a sign for Eclipse provisions on Route 73 in Keene, New York April 7, 2024.
Traffic heading towards Lake Placid pass a sign for Eclipse provisions on Route 73 in Keene, New York April 7, 2024.

The USA TODAY Network will be following the eclipse from southern Texas to northern Maine. Find more coverage here: www.usatoday.com/news/solar-eclipse-2024.

The rare event − where the shadow of the moon plunges a narrow strip of land into darkness in the middle of the day − is an astronomical experience like no other that will be unusually accessible to millions of people.

'New' path of totality map shows more will get to see the eclipse

Despite modern technology, the sun's radius is difficult to measure. New data shows that the sun is a tad bigger than previously thought.

Updated calculations have shifted the solar eclipse's path of totality — just a few days before the celestial event.

Expert John Irwin recently published a new map with updated lines for the April 8 solar eclipse, Forbes reports.

Give this story a read for the new Mohawk Valley municipalities in the path of totality, along with other locations to watch.

Optimal eclipse viewing conditions expected

While the Mohawk Valley battles what many hope to be the season's last snowfall, the forecast for Monday’s total solar eclipse remains positive.

Despite concerns that cloud coverage could turn a picturesque moment into something lesser, National Weather Service (NWS) lead meteorologist Michael Hardiman said April 8 looks favorable (knock on wood) with mostly clear skies and temperatures up to 60 degrees.

Surprisingly, much of Central New York can expect a better outlook than municipalities to the south and west.

Read this story for a more complete look at today's weather forecast.

How to safely view the eclipse

While appreciating the infrequency of the eclipse is important, do not forge the importance of doing so safely.

Precautions cover eye protection, possible traffic problems and likely disruptions in cell service.

Read more on the various precautions you should keep in mind here.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Solar eclipse 2024: Live updates in the Mohawk Valley