It’s Eclipse Day in Ohio: What to know
Special livestreamed coverage of the eclipse from NBC4 runs from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday. Watch live in the player above.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Marking the first time since 1806, Ohio will be in the direct path of the rare total solar eclipse on Monday afternoon.
What time does the solar eclipse start in Ohio?
Forecasters predict Monday’s phenomenon will last for just up to four minutes and 28 seconds, possibly twice as long as the previous eclipse in 2017. The 124-mile-wide path of totality, where the sun will be 100% blocked by the moon, will span from the southwest to the northeast portion of Ohio. Everyone outside this coverage area will have a different view of the occurrence, but all of the state falls in at least a 95% coverage zone.
How to view the eclipse
It is unsafe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing, according to NASA. Viewing any part of the sun through a camera lens, binoculars or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause a severe eye injury.
“You must look through safe solar viewing glasses, ‘eclipse glasses,’ or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times,” NASA states on its “Total Solar Eclipse Safety” site. “Eclipse glasses are not regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the sun.”
When and where traffic could be the worst on solar eclipse day
While NASA does not approve any particular brand of solar viewers, the agency does recommend those watching the eclipse purchase glasses that comply with the “ISO 12312-2 international standard.”
Where traffic could be the worst
Traffic cameras during the noon hour showed buildups along Interstate 71 in Delaware County and along U.S. 33 between Dublin and Marysville.
Interstate 71 in Delaware County, Ohio, on April 8, 2024 (ODOT) U.S. 33 westbound between Dublin and Marysville, Ohio, on April 8, 2024 (ODOT)
Matt Bruning, press secretary for the Ohio Department of Transportation, said the department expects to see the worst traffic immediately after the eclipse. He compared the event to a fireworks display. All morning, afternoon and evening, people trickle in to see the display, but when the grand finale goes off and the fireworks are done, everyone leaves at the same time.
ODOT has created an interactive map to display an hour-by-hour look at four potential traffic scenarios based on the number of visitors the state sees: 150,000, 350,000, 575,000 and 625,000.
Bruning’s overall advice to drivers is to “plan, prepare and be patient.” He advises drivers to top off their fuel tank before leaving the spot where they watched the eclipse in case they get stuck in hours of traffic.
Could gas station run out of fuel?
Kara Hitchens, public affairs manager for AAA, said stations running out of gas is a possibility, and whether gas stations will have extra gas stocked up for the eclipse will vary on a station-by-station basis.
Lorain County, which is located just outside of Cleveland and is directly in the path of totality, issued a warning that residents could have issues accessing certain items, including gas. The county has also recommended residents fill up their tanks before the weekend.
Can’t catch the eclipse? The next one is sooner than you might think
Franklin County Emergency Management director Darrel Koerber said the number of gas stations in and around the county are capable of supporting large crowds, as seen with Ohio State football games and the fair. He also said the agency encourages residents to fill their tanks ahead of eclipse day.
NBC4 has a gas price tracker, and it can be used as a way to find a station near you.
Will cellphone signals be affected?
Don Stevens, director of the Perkins Observatory at Ohio Wesleyan University, speculated that because of the potential for congestion, major network providers may deploy mobile cellphone towers like the ones used during natural disasters where coverage has been impacted. But Verizon in particular told NBC4 that its network has become so advanced that it won’t need to do anything like that.
Another major carrier, AT&T, told NBC4 it doesn’t expect serious issues thanks to the widespread adoption of 5G cellular technology.
How has Ohio prepared for the eclipse?
Gov. Mike DeWine said during a press conference on Friday that he is not activating the Ohio National Guard for the eclipse, but asked Adjutant General John Harris to be on standby in case they are needed with situations like traffic congestion.
“He has worked it out so some training exercises are occurring this weekend, and they certainly will be prepared and will monitor the situation, and if we need the guard to come in, we certainly will be able to do that,” DeWine said.
List: Solar eclipse viewing events, watch parties in central Ohio
Additionally, the governor said he would activate the Emergency Operations Center beginning on Sunday and running through Tuesday as part of the state’s precautionary measures for the eclipse. Ohio Emergency Management Agency Director Sima Merick said the teams there would monitor highway traffic cameras, as well as weather radar to keep an eye on both of the state’s main concerns for the event.
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