Hudson Valley eclipse-cast 🌕 ☀️
Update #595a
This week, snow. Next week, solar eclipse. A lot is happening out there!
Monday’s weather is coming into focus so I thought it would be helpful to provide an update on what you can expect with the solar eclipse.
The weather on Monday:
(4/7 update) For the latest forecast, head to the following post:
The eclipse on Monday:
Begins around 2:11 pm, ends around 4:36 pm
Maximum coverage around 3:25 pm: this is the deepest point of the eclipse, with the Sun most hidden
Although 93% of the sun will be hidden by the moon around 3:25 pm, it won’t turn entirely dark, but it will be noticeably dim
It’s never safe to look directly at the sun during a partial solar eclipse: you need protective eyewear
The image below compares the simulated eclipse experience in the Hudson Valley (left) vs that of Buffalo, New York (right), assuming clear skies. Note the dramatic difference between totality (total darkness) and 93% (slight dimming)!
Some schools will be dismissing early on Monday. Here’s why:
While it is a spectacularly unique phenomenon, it doesn’t come without risk: the confluence of school dismissal time, afternoon rush hour, and people traveling around for viewing will clog the roads as skies turn slightly dark in the mid-afternoon. There will be a natural inclination to look up, at best diverting focus from the task at hand, or, at worst, leading to eye damage and other incidents.
The next total solar eclipse in the Hudson Valley will take place in May 2079 — 55 years from now. By then, everyone will be using solar-powered hoverboards to get around, and the eclipse will be the only thing that could momentarily ground us! 🔮