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[kharvey10]

Lunch meetup:  11 AM on April 6 at El Rancherito in Mt. Vernon, IL (Mexican restaurant on IL 15 just east of I-57 off Exit 95)

Following lunch on Saturday - will be targeting roadgeek sites of interest around Southern Illinois (the I-57 widening project will be a main priority)

Sunday plans: going into St. Louis area

Monday:  Venue TBD but expect a target location along or near the I-57 corridor between Mt. Vernon and Marion exits.

I strongly recommend you joining the St. Louis Roads Facebook group (became private group per decision of group admins in July 2022) for more updated information.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/369721483111108

[Rothman]

Having to join yet another private group is a buzzkill.

[NWI_Irish96]

My in-laws are in Indy which is in the path of the eclipse so I'm probably going there.

[Max Rockatansky]

Maybe for me, there are lots of National Parks and cities nearby my wife hasn’t been to yet. 

[froggie]

Path of totality goes right over my house.  I'll be enjoying it from my patio (weather permitting)...

[1995hoo]

Having to join yet another private group Facebook is a buzzkill.

[webny99]

The eclipse doesn't fall during a great time of year for us here in the Northeast (can't even rule out snow in early April) but otherwise, I'm very much looking forward to my first total eclipse. Rochester and Buffalo are both right near the center of totality, with 3 minutes, 41 seconds of totality expected where I'm at. If the weather is good (and maybe even if it isn't), there will probably be an influx of eclipse viewers from both directions.

Here's an eclipse map for anyone interested: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2024-april-8

[NWI_Irish96]

The eclipse doesn't fall during a great time of year for us here in the Northeast (can't even rule out snow in early April) but otherwise, I'm very much looking forward to my first total eclipse. Rochester and Buffalo are both right near the center of totality, with 3 minutes, 41 seconds of totality expected where I'm at. If the weather is good (and maybe even if it isn't), there will probably be an influx of eclipse viewers from both directions.

Here's an eclipse map for anyone interested: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2024-april-8

I'm sure they'll all head to Orleans County to watch the eclipse.

[webny99]

... Rochester and Buffalo are both right near the center of totality, with 3 minutes, 41 seconds of totality expected where I'm at. If the weather is good (and maybe even if it isn't), there will probably be an influx of eclipse viewers from both directions. ...

I'm sure they'll all head to Orleans County to watch the eclipse.

That would be the place to go if you want to avoid crowds. 

[CtrlAltDel]

Here's an eclipse map for anyone interested: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2024-april-8

Here's another one with a more scientific bent, for those interested.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

I'll rather wait for the 2026 August 12 solar eclipse, as its totality will pass way closer to me. In fact so close, I'm actually right outside the totality path.

[NWI_Irish96]

I'll rather wait for the 2026 August 12 solar eclipse, as its totality will pass way closer to me. In fact so close, I'm actually right outside the totality path.

I think we should all go visit for that.

[hbelkins]

Having to join yet another private group is a buzzkill.

Any group that remains public is getting swamped with spam. Going private with groups is a sensible decision.

[1]

I'll rather wait for the 2026 August 12 solar eclipse, as its totality will pass way closer to me. In fact so close, I'm actually right outside the totality path.

It looks like Spain (or at least southern France) might be in the path of totality for the 2024 eclipse if you're high enough that you can see significantly below the horizon, but I'm not exactly sure how this works.

[oscar]

Here's an eclipse map for anyone interested: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2024-april-8

Hard to tell the path of totality, with the slight difference in shades of red between the totality path and the partial eclipse path.

But it does provide info on the likelihood of cloudy weather on eclipse day. From some casual clicking, it looks like the best likely eclipse watching weather will be in Mexico, especially in the Mazatlan area (cloudy about 25% of the time on April 8). Within the U.S. you can get around 45% along the border, in Eagle Pass TX. It jumps to around 60% in Austin, and keeps getting worse as you head northeast, up to around 75% in Gander, Newfoundland.

Not like the 2017 eclipse, where serious eclipse watchers could camp out in central Oregon north of Bend for fairly reliable viewing weather.

[Rothman]

Having to join yet another private group is a buzzkill.

Any group that remains public is getting swamped with spam. Going private with groups is a sensible decision.

I prefer it when the host just sets up a private event.  It's simpler.

I'll probably run to Texas for this one.

[webny99]

The idea of traveling long distance to see an eclipse that's also visible nearby gives me pause because of the off chance that there's poor weather there and clear weather at home.

[1995hoo]

The idea of traveling long distance to see an eclipse that's also visible nearby gives me pause because of the off chance that there's poor weather there and clear weather at home.

That factor is one consideration that prompts me to plan to stay south of the border instead of turning it into a reason for a trip to Toronto or Montreal like I had considered at one point—I feel like I would have more flexibility to change plans on short notice if the weather forecast were problematic, whereas a change of plans that required crossing the border could prove problematic due to traffic, etc.

[SSOWorld]

I’ll be in Texas.

[Jim]

My initial thought is to watch from the summit of Whiteface Mountain, assuming enough snow remains for the summit chair to be open for skiing.  No idea if that's going to be practical.  In any case, I expect to be somewhere in central/northern NY.

[Rothman]

The idea of traveling long distance to see an eclipse that's also visible nearby gives me pause because of the off chance that there's poor weather there and clear weather at home.

It's upstate NY.  The weather WILL be lousy.  I guarantee it.

[MikeTheActuary]

Having to join yet another private group Facebook is a buzzkill.

Amen.

I am actually planning to go to southern Illinois for that eclipse.  For the prior eclipse, I had planned to take my father up to my mother's grave site to view the eclipse (she had just recently passed; it's not terribly far from Memphis; etc.), but he had some health issues, and the trip was aborted.   

He's since passed, but the idea's stuck in my head and I'd like to check out his grave marker after it's installed.   So.....

This, of course, means that it'll be overcast and stormy in southern Illinois for that eclipse.

[SSOWorld]

It is usually cloudier in most of the US along the path in April - particularly north.

[Rothman]

It is usually cloudier in most of the US along the path in April - particularly north.

Oscar's post goes into detail on this.

[7/8]

It is usually cloudier in most of the US along the path in April - particularly north.

Oscar's post goes into detail on this.

This write up also goes into good detail on weather prospects (including this graph):


Personally I'm hoping to go to Mexico or Texas for the best chances, but we'll see what happens. If not, I can drive down to Lake Erie and cross my fingers for clear skies.