Monday’s solar eclipse is already tying up traffic in areas along the path of totality, or the vein of regions along the US where people can view the full eclipse.
Oregonians so far are seeing the brunt of the traffic as revelers have started pouring into central Oregon, clogging roadways and draining gas supplies in rural towns, all in hopes of catching the full splendor of this once in a lifetime celestial event.
The nightmare scenario for locals in the state started emerging Wednesday when traffic backed up for 12 miles on US Highway 26 as people began to set up camp for an eclipse festival near Prineville.
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RV traffic sits at a standstill along a two-lane road near Madras, Oregon, Thursday
Traffic backups in Oregon on Thursday, likely to worsen leading up to the main event Monday
Map of the drive time to the center-line of the eclipse, this map does not take into account extremely heavy traffic in areas that are currently seeing swells of revelers
Oregon is hosting dozens of festivals, which is quickly mounting to a headache for local residents in small towns not prepared for millions of visitors.
Gas stations aren’t prepared either. One user took to twitter to share gas stations in Bend, Or. have been emptied, while others are seeing long lines at the pumps.
‘The numbers of people who were coming in, we are beyond capacity really on that highway.’
Early visitors arrive in Madras, Oregon on Thursday to set up camp for viewing
Some gas stations ran out of gas in central Oregon while others were experiencing long lines at the pumps
Traffic alerts along Missouri roadways, warning drivers to be prepared for congestion
Aerial view of traffic provided by the Oregon State Police
‘Traffic is moving — it’s not stopped — but it’s taking a long time,’ said Peter Murphy, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation in central Oregon to Fox 13.
Elsewhere, the Tennessee Department of Transportation is especially worried about what could happen on the roads at the time of the eclipse.
Parts of Middle Tennessee are within the path of totality, which means thousands of people will have flocked to the region.
The TDOT is concerned that people might stop in the middle of the road to watch the eclipse.
‘We know we’re going to see a large increase in traffic for the days leading up to and probably the days after, but we’re hearing estimates between 300,000 to over a million that could come to the Middle Tennessee area to view this eclipse, so that’s a lot of people,’ the spokeswoman told WKRN.
For those wishing to safely watch from the comfort of their own homes or offices who aren’t able to head to the path of totality, it will be availible to watch online.
A team of researchers from Montana State University has partnered with NASA to participate in the Space Grant Ballooning Project to send more than 50 high-altitude balloons 80,000 feet (24,384 meters) up to capture the solar eclipse as it crosses the country on Aug. 21.
Next week’s solar eclipse will be streamed live online for the first time, from the vantage point of helium-filled balloons across the United States, providing the public with sky-high views as the moon blocks the sun.
During a total solar eclipse (pictured), the moon completely blocks the face of the sun. This reveals the ‘pearly white halo’ of the sun’s corona, its outer atmosphere (pictured), which is invisible to the naked eye at all other times
‘We’ll see the variations from coast to coast to see what the eclipse does over landscapes,’ Cassandra Runyon, director of the South Carolina Space Grant Consortium, said excitedly at a test launch on Thursday.
They will be launched from roughly 50 U.S. locations and transmit the images back to Earth.
The balloons will be filled with enough helium to lift them roughly 1,000 feet per minute reaching an altitude of 80,000 feet.
Using a ground station antenna, team members on land will live stream the video online here.
The planet is just days away from the shadow of a solar eclipse passing over its surface, providing a rare spectacle for those lucky enough to see it.
It’s an event that will be watched and recorded by millions, but timelapse footage taken from space presents a view of an eclipse few will ever witness firsthand.
Japan’s Himawari 8 weather satellite caught the moment when the moon’s shadow passed over the Pacific in stunning detail.
Japan’s Himawari 8 weather satellite caught the moment when the moon’s shadow passed over the Pacific (pictured) in stunning detail on March 9, 2016
With the monumental event, many will stop what they’re doing to get a glimpse however they can which will cost US companies hundreds of millions of dollars in lost productivity.
It’s estimated American employers will see at least $694 million in missing output for the roughly 20 minutes that people will take out of their workday to stretch their legs, head outside the office and gaze at the nearly two-and-a-half minute eclipse.
The 20 minute figure is a conservative estimate as many people may take even longer to set up their telescopes or special viewing glasses, or simply take off for the entire day.
About $700million worth of productivity will be lost across the American workforce on Monday with millions of people stepping away from their desks to watch the eclipse
The losses will be offset in part by the millions of other people who are travelling to see the phenomenon and will be bringing in added business to the area
School districts around the country and especially along the path of totality are grappling with keeping students in school to assist in safe viewing of the eclipse or giving them the day off so they aren’t staring at the sun with unprotected eyes during recesses.
A school district in Ohio has canceled classes on Monday over concerns about students damaging their eyes while looking at the solar eclipse.
The superintendent of Jefferson Area Local Schools said Thursday that the eclipse could pose a risk to students who view it even inadvertently while at school or on the bus ride home.
The day will be used as a service day for faculty and staff.
Some schools have decided to make the entire event into a teachable moment where they can enthuse about science, space and the solar system
Solar eclipse glasses are the only safe way to watch the eclipse as it takes place
Similar decisions have been made in other parts of the country. One Pennsylvania school district says children won’t be let outside for recess during the solar eclipse because of the potential harm to students who look at the sun.
Some Georgia school districts are extending the school day so that students can watch it under adult supervision, each of them with free protective glasses.
‘We’ve decided to extend the day so that we can provide authentic and in the moment learning experiences for our students,’ said Chief Learning Officer Laura Orr told the Washington Post. ‘We don’t want to miss the unique opportunity.’
Weather should be taken into account for those eager to see the eclipse themselves. While the early eclipse weather forecast looks clear in the West and cloudy in the East with patchy clouds are muddling up the picture in between.
The spectacular viewing event will appear across skies on Monday, August 21, but some states have a better chance of seeing the rare sight.
The forecast as of Friday shows Oregon and Idaho as the most promising spots to have clear sky views.
The West, especially Oregon and Iadaho, is in the best position to watch the eclipse on Monday
However, South Carolina is the most likely to find the sun and moon blocked by clouds and potential rainfall
Meteorologist Mike Musher says overall about half the nation is likely to get favorable eclipse viewing weather.
There are thunderstorms expected in several Midwest states, including Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas, making it unclear if those areas will be able to spot the eclipse.
Musher added to Time: ‘The Midwest is kind of in the unknown.’
He continued: ‘Even though the probability for clouds is pretty low in the Northwest, there could be smoke that could inhibit a perfect view of the eclipse. It’s something to keep in mind.’
One private meteorologist and eclipse-chaser fears heart-breaking weather in Wyoming where clouds could hide the eclipse with tantalizing clear skies just off in the distance.
Clouds make it difficult to see the fiery ring around the blotted out sun.