BLOG: Central Texas experiences ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ eclipse

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Some cities in Central Texas ballooned in size Monday as people traveled to experience a total solar eclipse. Follow updates throughout Central Texas below.

In Austin, the partial eclipse began at 12:17 p.m., and the total eclipse at 1:36 p.m. Duration of the total eclipse is 1 minute and 40 seconds, and the time of maximum coverage is 1:37 p.m.

Eclipse resources

• GALLERY: Central Texans experience 2024 solar eclipse

• TIMELAPSE: See the 2024 eclipse from one of Austin’s tallest buildings

Live blog

9:40 p.m.

‘Y’all have been a dream,’ Burnet County constable sends drivers off with a smile during traffic jam

Missy Bindseil, the constable for Burnet County Precinct 4, spent Monday at the intersection of State Highway 29 and County Road 2341.

That’s where traffic snarled with festival-goers trying to get out of town after organizers and city and county leaders made a joint decision to end the eclipse festival ahead of the Tuesday morning risk for severe weather.

Most people still smiled as they drove away, rolling down their windows to chat with Bindseil and other officers directing traffic.

“They’re from Australia,” Bindseil yelled over to the KXAN crew on the scene after talking with one couple.

She said she tried to help keep things light for people who had to spend hours in stop-and-go traffic Monday.

“Come back any time,” she told one group. “Y’all have been a dream.”

8 p.m.

The Burnet County Sheriff’s Office had its drone in the air Monday keeping an eye on exiting festival traffic to ensure there were no incidents people were unable to report because of bad cell signal.
“The cell phones are kind of jammed up so we’re just kinda keeping an eye out and over watching,” said Paul Kowalik with BCSO. He was piloting the drone Monday.
The feed from the drone was transmitted to the emergency operations center at the sheriff’s office and could also be seen by deputies out in the field on their cell phones.
“I have been out here since [20]17 and I’ve never seen anything like this. We’ve had several festivals out here but nothing to this magnitude,” Kowalik said.

6:20 p.m.

Clouds didn’t stop Austin from celebrating the total solar eclipse. Watch the video above from KXAN photojournalist Ed Zavala to see Austin experience total coverage at the Long Center near downtown Austin.

5:30 p.m.

Traffic is moving slowly on U.S. Highway 183 near Loop 308 after an eclipse festival ended early, Burnet County emergency officials said on social media.

KXAN’s Jala Washington, Brianna Hollis and Grace Reader are reporting near the Texas Total Eclipse Festival Monday as part of team coverage of the eclipse.

Burnet Eclipse Festival canceled early due to possible severe weather

The Burnet festival ended early Monday due to a potential threat of severe weather in the area, according to an announcement on the festival’s website and social media. The notice was also posted online by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office.

4:45 p.m.

Texas Outdoor Lighting sent us drone video of a time lapse during the eclipse. You can see all the lights turn on when it goes dark, which makes it quite the view.

3:45 p.m.

TxDOT prepares for departing crowds and traffic

After the eclipse happened, KXAN’s Britt Moreno reached out to the Texas Department of Transportation to see how it is prepared for departing crowds now that the main show is over.

TxDOT said its crews are “deployed across the region to respond to any incidents that could impede traffic, such as stalled vehicles in the roadway or traffic signal issues.”

The agency said it made sure all vehicles were fueled up and ready to go to respond to any incidents. “We’re prepared to work around the clock until traffic thing outs,” TxDOT said.

Heavy congestion is expected on Interstate 35, State Highway 71, U.S. Highway 290, U.S. Highway 183, U.S. 281 and State Highway 29. TxDOT also expects heavy traffic on Farm to Market and Ranch to Market roads out to the west “as they were not built to handle this kind of capacity,” the agency said.

Shortly after 3 p.m., TxDOT said heavy traffic was happening in Burnet County. The agency began seeing congestion in Dripping Springs, Johnson City, Blanco and south of Marble Falls. SH 71 also had heavy traffic from Bee Cave out west, in Austin at I-35 and east toward the Austin Airport, according to TxDOT.

3:30 p.m.

Hundreds flock to CapMetro’s eclipse picnic in Leander

Sprawled across the lawns of CapMetro’s Leander Station Park & Ride, hundreds of visitors craned their heads upward to catch a glimpse of the celestial phenomenon as Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “All the Stars” bumped in the background.

“Let’s go moon!” yelled some kids, who’d ventured with their parents and grandparents north to experience a longer bit of totality.

Community was at the heart of Monday’s eclipse picnic. One guest told KXAN she and her husband had flown from Seattle to Austin for the weekend before heading to Leander for more time in totality.

Her dad, who’d first seen a total eclipse in Georgia in 2017, joined them day-of, flying out early Monday morning. Their to-do list: Visit the LBJ Presidential Library, watch the moon do its thing and then enjoy some Terry Black’s Barbecue before heading out.

For others, Monday’s eclipse marked the final time they’d likely ever witness one before their own eyes. Jody Benson, 79, has lived in Austin since 1964. She was thrilled at the prospect of the once-in-a-lifetime event, adding that she hopes its memory will linger long after the moon passes.

“I’m thinking of all the years that have come before and the years, hopefully, that will go after, and how I’ll always remember this for the rest of my life,” she said.

Others knew it’d be a memorable occasion, and wanted to ensure it’d be a day they’d never forget. Jose Rodriguez and his girlfriend of eight years traveled from Bogotá, Colombia to experience the eclipse. As the moon completed its arc, eclipsing the sun, Rodriguez got down on one knee and proposed.

“I was looking for a specific moment and a unique moment in life to make this proposal, this very proposal to my girlfriend,” he said. “I’m very happy to be here in Leander, Texas.”

3:15 p.m.

These images of the eclipse were taken from a telescope in Georgetown. These were taken by Jakob Regino.

2:45 p.m.

Check out this photo sent to us from Gayle Bauscher in Dripping Springs.

2:30 p.m.

Video of the solar eclipse can be seen in Marble Falls. Video was taken by Chris Nelson.

2:10 p.m.

KXAN’s Grace Reader was able to capture a time lapse of the eclipse from Interstate 35 and Riverside

2:02 p.m.

Our crew was at Lady Bird Lake to see if bats would emerge when it went dark from the solar eclipse hitting totality. The bats did not emerge.

1:13 p.m.

People start looking up to the sky to watch the eclipse at the viewing part at the Long Center in Austin.

12:30 p.m.

Vampire Weekend kicks off their eclipse performance at the Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park.

12:30 p.m.

Students and staff at Reilly Elementary School watch the solar eclipse begin in Austin.

12:10 p.m.

Austin is celebrating the total solar eclipse at the Long Center near downtown. Hundreds of people have picked their spot on the lawn for the event.

GALLERY: Central Texans experience 2024 solar eclipse

11:20 a.m.

Will DuPree is Marble Falls, which is in the path of totality. With concerns over cloudy skies in Central Texas, Will has a positive update from the Hill Country as the sun is starting to come out.

10:15 a.m.

Couple getting married in Texas during total solar eclipse

For one California couple, the total solar eclipse will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience in more ways than one.

Clarissa Encarnacion and Wil Perkins are tying the knot during totality at a ranch in Lampasas.

Read the full story here.

10 a.m.

Lines at the Long Center started forming before 10 a.m. for an 11 a.m. entrance to view the eclipse on the front lawn.

10 a.m.

Vampire Weekend offers free livestream of Austin solar eclipse concert at Moody Amphitheater

American rock band Vampire Weekend is performing in Austin at the Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park during the eclipse Monday.

The band, which recently released its fifth studio album last week, is also offering a livestream of the show. You can claim your free ticket online here.

People are lined up at the Moody ahead of Vampire Weekend’s performance.

9 a.m.

Burnet Eclipse Festival canceled early due to possible severe weather

The Texas Total Eclipse Festival in Burnet is ending early Monday due to a potential threat of severe weather in the area, according to an announcement on the festival’s website and social media. The notice was also posted online by the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office.

Read the full story here.

7 a.m.

The Texas Department of Public Transportation is reminding drivers of safety tips ahead of the eclipse. The department says drivers on the roads during the event should plan ahead for extra traffic and get to their viewing areas early. It also said in a social media post drivers should not stop on the highway or park on the shoulder to view the eclipse, but rather keep driving until they can find a safe place to park.

6:30 a.m.

Dripping Springs Mayor Bill Foulds, Jr. joined Meteorologist Kristen Currie live on air to talk about what the city expects. He said, “No matter rain or shine, we’re gonna have a great time.” The city has been preparing and planning celebrations for months ahead of the celestial event.

6:15 a.m.

Dr. Volker Bromm, a professor in astronomy at the University of Texas in Austin, joined KXAN News Today to talk about key moments to look for during the total solar eclipse.

6 a.m.

KXAN has crews fanned throughout Central Texas to capture how people are experiencing what many call a “once-in-a-lifetime” celestial event — and the impacts the influx of people has to our area. We’ll share updates throughout the day on KXAN.com, the KXAN News App and on KXAN on air.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.