Time, weather, protection: how to prepare for today's 97% totality solar eclipse
SOUTH BEND — It’s a great day to view the 97% totality solar eclipse in Michiana this afternoon, said Meteorologist Andrew Whitmyer, from The Tribune’s partner at WNDU, who projected 70-degree weather for the momentous day.
A solar eclipse occurs when there is a new moon, which Whitmyer said, “typically, around every 18 months, there is a solar eclipse somewhere on Earth.”
Though South Bend won’t experience a total solar eclipse — the last one was in 1806, Whitmyer said — here’s how the eclipse can affect South Bend residents.
When will it occur?
The eclipse will begin around 1:52 p.m., said Rachel Cobb from the National Weather Service-South Bend. The South Bend area will experience 97% totality, she said, between 3:08 p.m. and 3:12 p.m. depending on where you are. It will end around 4:25 p.m.
Whitmyer said clouds shouldn’t affect visibility in today’s eclipse viewing.
He said the “thin, eye-level clouds” aren’t going to impact any viewing in Michiana and in South Central Indiana, which will experience 100% totality.
Solar eclipse brings temperature drop
There will be a temperature decrease between 3 and 3:30 p.m. Cobb estimated the weather will get five to 10 degrees cooler and maybe even more, she said. Whitmyer said the weather temperatures will “quickly rebound” around 4 p.m.
During the 2017 eclipse, Whitmyer said, the South Bend area saw 85% percent of the sun blocked.
“Just like in 2017,” Whitmyer said, “there’s a narrow path where you get that 100% totality, but it affects a huge continent. The whole landscape is impacted in so many different forms. Some piece of the sun is being blocked by the moon.”
Viewing the eclipse safely
Michiana won’t experience complete darkness, as Indianapolis will, said Whitmyer, who told The Tribune WNDU will have a team at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to witness the eclipse as it happens for their viewers.
He expects sunlight to get dimmer and for residents to see more shadows in Michiana.
Whitmyer sent out a warning. “Folks have got to realize that the sun is still pretty bright,” he said. With three to one percent of the sun still visible, it’s still going to be “quite bright” out there. He expects an early sunset.
“If you’re not in the path of 1% totality,” which, Whitmyer said, no part of Michiana is, eclipse glasses will be needed if people plan to view the eclipse for any amount of time.
According to what optometrists have told WNDU, Whitmyer said, it takes only about 90 seconds to cause permanent damage to your retina. “Once that damage happens, they can’t go in and do eye surgery to reverse it. Use your eclipse glasses or don’t look up at the sun at all.”
Cobb gave a similar warning, saying, “Any eye damage from looking directly at it is not reversible,” she said. “There’s no cure.”
Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Weather forecast for solar eclipse day April 8 and what to expect
