Solar Eclipse 2024: Viewer photos, watch parties, and coverage across Central & Southern Illinois

Bradley Zimmerman
·5 min read

WATCH: WCIA 3 Eclipse Livestream

Viewer Eclipse Photos

All eclipse glasses were focused on Monday afternoon’s main event: the solar eclipse. That’s where some of your cameras were focused, too. Our viewers captured some incredible photographs of the rare solar spectacle.

Abby Forester
Abby Forester
The Crossroads in Effingham
The Crossroads in Effingham
Sarah Humphrey in Paris
Sarah Humphrey in Paris
Tim Oyer
Tim Oyer
Tim Oyer
Tim Oyer
Clara Koestner in Effingham
Clara Koestner in Effingham
Sandy Bolen Ohm
Sandy Bolen Ohm
Amanda Marie Smalley at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds
Amanda Marie Smalley at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds
Justin Arthur
Justin Arthur
Jennifer Benson
Jennifer Benson
Greg Koester
Greg Koester
Uri Rodriguez in Carbondale
Uri Rodriguez in Carbondale
Julia Greenwood Pedigo in Toledo
Julia Greenwood Pedigo in Toledo
Julia Greenwood Pedigo in Toledo
Julia Greenwood Pedigo in Toledo
Charlie Leach
Charlie Leach
Nathan Becraft in Paris
Nathan Becraft in Paris
Nathan Becraft in Paris
Nathan Becraft in Paris
Nathan Becraft in Paris
Nathan Becraft in Paris
Debra Dobson in Westville
Debra Dobson in Westville

Looked at the sun? Signs your eyes may have been damaged by the solar eclipse

Watch Parties

No matter if it was a partial eclipse or complete totality, Central and Southern Illinois were filled with watch parties and “solar”-brations. Here are just a few.

Meridian Middle/High-School (from Mindy Deckard)
Meridian Middle/High-School (from Mindy Deckard)
A drive-in watch party in Newton (from Ben Harroun)
A drive-in watch party in Newton (from Ben Harroun)
South Quad watch party (from Oulay Phanrana Harvey)
South Quad watch party (from Oulay Phanrana Harvey)
Work parking lot watch party (from Scarlett McBride)
Work parking lot watch party (from Scarlett McBride)
Effingham Tuscan Hills Winery Viewing party
Effingham Tuscan Hills Winery Viewing party
A special birthday watch party! (from Kenna Stewart)
A special birthday watch party! (from Kenna Stewart)
A family eclipse party in Danville! (from Terry Moore Crawford)
A family eclipse party in Danville! (from Terry Moore Crawford)
Cross at the Crossroads in Effingham
Cross at the Crossroads in Effingham
Washington Savings Bank in Mattoon
Washington Savings Bank in Mattoon
SIUC watch party (from Jesse Julia Thompson)
SIUC watch party (from Jesse Julia Thompson)
Cross at the Crossroads in Effingham
Cross at the Crossroads in Effingham
Effingham Performance Center
Effingham Performance Center
UI Quad watch party (from Marla Schnitzler Todd)
UI Quad watch party (from Marla Schnitzler Todd)
DuQuoin State Fairgrounds (from Shannon Jesse Smith)
DuQuoin State Fairgrounds (from Shannon Jesse Smith)
Mackville at Turkey Run State Park (from Amy J Lee)
Mackville at Turkey Run State Park (from Amy J Lee)
UIUC Main Quad (from Peyton Hamilton)
UIUC Main Quad (from Peyton Hamilton)
Watch party at the Marshall courtyard (from Maxine Leffler Vail)
Watch party at the Marshall courtyard (from Maxine Leffler Vail)
A gathering at Giant City State Park (from Kathy Hettinger Page)
A gathering at Giant City State Park (from Kathy Hettinger Page)

Mattoon Middle Schoolers experience eclipse, donate glasses to Latin America

Viewer photos

It has now been several hours since the solar eclipse passed over Central and Southern Illinois. We have seen hundreds of your celebratory snapshots. Now, let’s see some sunny faces!

Debbie Manero in Urbana
Debbie Manero in Urbana
Tabby Phipps Cunningham in Charleston
Tabby Phipps Cunningham in Charleston
Evelyn Brewer in Southern IL
Evelyn Brewer in Southern IL
Carol Wells’ grandson in Effingham
Carol Wells’ grandson in Effingham
Breanna Martin and son
Breanna Martin and son
Ann Hoops in Urbana
Ann Hoops in Urbana
Dianne Kubon Harris in Danville
Dianne Kubon Harris in Danville
Carrie McCormack-Moschino in Mt. Vernon (with Scooter!)
Carrie McCormack-Moschino in Mt. Vernon (with Scooter!)
Jennifer Wright
Jennifer Wright
Chana Allen Ray and parents in Tuscola
Chana Allen Ray and parents in Tuscola
MacKenzie Parker Thorman in Olney
MacKenzie Parker Thorman in Olney
Effingham Performance Center
Effingham Performance Center
Terri Pieper
Terri Pieper
Scott Tofari
Scott Tofari
Lori Lawrence Phanrana
Lori Lawrence Phanrana
Cheldyn Chrisagis in Effingham
Cheldyn Chrisagis in Effingham
Shelby Foley in Rossville
Shelby Foley in Rossville
Christine-Chuck Barham
Christine-Chuck Barham
Sandy Morgan
Sandy Morgan
Shilpi Saxena in Savoy
Shilpi Saxena in Savoy
Brooke Eryn Ray in Georgetown
Brooke Eryn Ray in Georgetown
A special day was made even more special at Cross at the Crossroads in Effingham! Congrats to the happy couple!
A special day was made even more special at Cross at the Crossroads in Effingham! Congrats to the happy couple!
Effingham Performance Center
Effingham Performance Center
Effingham Performance Center
Effingham Performance Center
Alejandra Gonzalez
Alejandra Gonzalez
Kathy Suchaczewski
Kathy Suchaczewski
Amy Mullen, photographed by Scarlett McBride
Amy Mullen, photographed by Scarlett McBride
Angie Strole
Angie Strole
Julia Myers in Effingham
Julia Myers in Effingham
Monique DuBray-Katz in Goose Pond, Ind.
Monique DuBray-Katz in Goose Pond, Ind.
Debra Wayne Urban
Debra Wayne Urban
Kelly Jo Moore Easton took the outdoorsy opportunity to prep the farm!
Kelly Jo Moore Easton took the outdoorsy opportunity to prep the farm!
Jeri Balch Moffett and coworkers
Jeri Balch Moffett and coworkers
Emily Harrison in Champaign Co.
Emily Harrison in Champaign Co.
Clint Hymes and his wife in Albion
Clint Hymes and his wife in Albion
Sonya Oakley Best in Shelbyville
Sonya Oakley Best in Shelbyville
Photo by Maggie Jacobs, in a Terre Haute Pizza Hut parking lot
Photo by Maggie Jacobs, in a Terre Haute Pizza Hut parking lot
Lisa Herrington
Lisa Herrington
Lisa Herrington
Lisa Herrington
Lisa Herrington
Lisa Herrington
Angie Hopkins
Angie Hopkins
Kayla Knop Nichols
Kayla Knop Nichols
Brenda Layton
Brenda Layton
Carla and Alan Hathaway-Pollman
Carla and Alan Hathaway-Pollman
Terri Jo Nasser-Condarco
Terri Jo Nasser-Condarco
Veronica Eades
Veronica Eades
Nikki Larkin Hodge
Nikki Larkin Hodge
Kristy Grissom
Kristy Grissom
Pamela Don Feldhake
Pamela Don Feldhake
Teresa Ann
Teresa Ann
Elizabeth Wyer
Elizabeth Wyer
Gary Henigman
Gary Henigman
Paul DeArmond
Paul DeArmond
Jenny Brown Trimmell in Muncie, Ind.
Jenny Brown Trimmell in Muncie, Ind.
Linda Wallace Kemplin
Linda Wallace Kemplin
Kendra Jones
Kendra Jones
Cheryl Foley
Cheryl Foley
Simphi Schafer Lenover in Spencer, Ind.
Simphi Schafer Lenover in Spencer, Ind.

Traveling to totality: how rest areas prepared for influx of drivers

3:28 p.m.

This video was taken by a WCIA weather camera in Effingham, showing the changes in light as the Moon’s shadow moved into Effingham.

2:17 p.m.

WCIA and WMBD’s live coverage of the eclipse in Central and Southern Illinois has ended.

2:05 p.m.

Totality has reached Central and Southern Illinois.

1 p.m.

Live coverage of the eclipse has begun on our digital channels, which will continue through totality. On-air coverage will begin at 1:50 p.m.

IL interactive map: what will the eclipse look like in your backyard?

12 p.m.

WCIA goes live from the path of totality of the 2024 solar eclipse. Chief Meteorologist Kevin Lighty and Meteorologist Jacob Dickey report from McLeansboro for WCIA 3 News at Noon to preview the eclipse.

11:19 a.m.

The IDOT traffic cams have captured the traffic on Interstate 57 headed southbound. The first photo is I-57 southbound near mile marker 226, between Champaign and Pesotum. The second the photo is I-57 southbound at the Tuscola on ramp.

I-57 SB Mile Marker 226
I-57 SB Mile Marker 226
I-57 SB Tuscola Ramp
I-57 SB Tuscola Ramp

Eclipse 2024: Events in downstate Illinois

9:25 a.m.

WCIA received the following email from the Illinois State Police, advising on traffic conditions:

Heavy traffic is expected on I-57 South in the Troop 7 area for the Solar Eclipse. Please be patient and courteous and scan ahead for any traffic slow downs or backups.

Also please remember the Interstate is not a safe place for slowing or stopping to view the solar eclipse. Parking along the Interstate is for emergencies only. Please make a plan to exit and find a safe place to stop for viewing the solar eclipse.

Mark Holley, Illinois State Police

Central Illinois school districts prepare for eclipse

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — It’s Eclipse Day in the USA and in Illinois.

As the moon moves across the sun, WCIA has team coverage from around Central and Southern Illinois, with our main camp in McLeansboro. We will go live in the video player above at 1 p.m. for digital coverage of the eclipse, with a special TV presentation on Channel 3 beginning at 1:50. Totality will take place around 2 p.m.

Solar eclipse: I’m not in the path of totality — do I still need to wear eclipse glasses?

Follow along for live updates and photos from the path of totality and around Central Illinois.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.