2024 partial solar eclipse in Poughkeepsie, Middletown this afternoon: Live updates
New Yorkers will have the chance to view a potentially once-in-a-lifetime event this afternoon: a total solar eclipse.
The moon will pass directly between the Earth and the sun, creating a total solar eclipse which will block the face of the sun and darken the sky. While the mid-Hudson Valley is not in the direct path of totality, a partial eclipse will still be visible, weather conditions permitting.
We'll be updating this story live as the day unfolds.
SUNY New Paltz prepares for eclipse viewing event
Two hours from peak eclipse in Dutchess County
Most municipalities in Dutchess County will see the peak of the partial eclipse at 3:26 p.m.
Find specific viewing times across the mid-Hudson Valley and the rest of New York here or search by zip code.
Here are the best viewing times for other neighborhoods in the area:
Amenia: 3:26:40 p.m.
Beacon: 3:26:00 p.m.
Beekman, Chelsea Cove: 3:26:10 p.m.
Fishkill: 3:26:00 p.m.
Hyde Park: 3:26:10 p.m.
Millbrook: 3:26:30 p.m.
Pine Plains: 3:26:30 p.m.
Poughkeepsie: 3:26:00 p.m.
Red Hook: 3:26:10 p.m.
Rhinebeck: 3:26:10 p.m.
Comparing this afternoon's eclipse to 2017
Today's solar eclipse is a more dramatic version of the 2017 solar eclipse, with the moon covering much more of the sun.
"We're closer to the path of totality this time than we were in 2017," said Raj Pandya, director of the John R. Kirk Planetarium at SUNY New Paltz. "In 2017, we saw about 50-60% of the sun covered here in New Paltz."
"We're going to see 94% covered this year," he said.
Schools dismissing early for eclipse
Schools have begun early dismissal so students can be home in time to view the eclipse this afternoon.
Red Hook high school and middle school students were dismissed at 10:45 a.m., with Mill Road Intermediate School students dismissed at 11:45 a.m. Highland students were all dismissed by 11:15 a.m. Onteora middle and high school students will be dismissed at 12:20 p.m. Onteora elementary school students will be dismissed 1:20 p.m.
See more school dismissals: Mid-Hudson Valley districts cancel school, dismiss early for eclipse
Mid-morning weather update: Sunny skies in Dutchess County
With a few hours to go before the eclipse, sunny skies remain in Dutchess County, despite a few clouds rolling in.
Meteorologist Chris Gitro, of the National Weather Service at Albany said Monday morning the clouds that will be coming in over Dutchess County appear to be fairly thin in nature and shouldn't prevent views of the eclipse.
Dutchess public buses won't pull over during eclipse
If you're traveling to or from the city this afternoon and normally drive, you may want to consider MTA instead.
To avoid the high volumes of traffic that'll be seen across the state, the MTA advises public transit is the best and safest way to go.
Dutchess County Public Transit bus services will not be making any changes to routes on the day of the eclipse, and no, buses will not be pulling over to watch the partial eclipse.
Current weather in Poughkeepsie
Keep checking our Accuweather forecast for the latest weather updates.
And cross your fingers for clear skies!
Going to SUNY New Paltz for the eclipse? What to know
A viewing event for the partial solar eclipse will be held today at SUNY New Paltz on the Old Main Quad, and over 1000 people from the campus, as well as the surrounding communities are expected to attend, according to Raj Pandya, director of the John R. Kirk Planetarium at SUNY New Paltz.
They'll be passing out solar eclipse glasses and have about 1000 at the ready, but Pandya assumes they'll run out quick, and ask people in advance to share.
The SUNY New Paltz viewing event will also have some special additions.
"We will have about eight telescopes with solar filters, so people can see the eclipse up close using the telescopes," Pandya said.
More: Where to see the eclipse in Poughkeepsie: These are the top 10 spots
Clouds in Poughkeepsie, Middletown for eclipse, but 'there's some hope'
Meteorologists from the National Weather Service offices in Albany and New York City expect the mid-Hudson Valley to have a dry afternoon with warm temperatures, although viewers will likely have clouds to contend with during the big event.
Meteorologist Chris Gitro, of the National Weather Service at Albany said Monday morning the clouds that will be coming in over Dutchess County appear to be fairly thin in nature.
"Unfortunately, it looks like high level cloud cover will be over the vast majority of eastern New York, including the Hudson Valley later on this afternoon," he said.
Gitro noted it is hard to gauge whether we'll be able to see through them, however, "they appear to be fairly thin in nature, so there's some hope," he said. "I think we'll be able to see the eclipse through the cloud cover."
More: Your ultimate guide to viewing the 2024 partial solar eclipse in Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie, Middletown will see partial solar eclipse after 3 p.m.
The path of totality will enter in the southwestern part of New York just after 3:15 p.m. April 8 and will depart northern New York just before 3:30 p.m.
Most neighborhoods in Dutchess County will see the peak of the partial eclipse at 3:26 p.m. Orange County neighborhoods will see the peak a minute earlier, at 3:25 p.m.
Find specific viewing times across the mid-Hudson Valley and the rest of New York here or search by zip code.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Eclipse 2024 in mid-Hudson Valley, NY on April 8: Live updates
