Solar Eclipse 2024: Darkness falling over Northeast Ohio on April 8 | Live updates
After months of anticipation, emergency preparedness planning and hype, the day of the solar eclipse is finally here.
The peak of the solar eclipse -- when the moon completely blocks the sun, save for a shimmering ring of golden sunshine called a "corona" -- will happen at 3:14 p.m. in Akron and will last 2 minutes, 46 seconds before darkness starts to lift. That time will vary seconds or milliseconds in surrounding areas.
After a soggy morning, the skies have cleared. The National Weather Service in Cleveland is forecasting partly sunny skies this afternoon with a high temperature of about 72 degrees.
You can follow all of our reporting here live, as eclipse day 2024 unfolds:
Will early birds get best seats for eclipse?
Eric Flanders of Akron's North Hill neighborhood set up lawn chairs atop of one of Cuyahoga Falls’ parking garages at about 10 a.m. for himself, his wife, son and daughter to view the eclipse in the afternoon.“You never know, even today, if you’re going to get a clear view of it,” he said from the garage roof at about 10:40 a.m.Flanders said he and his family will check out the street level of Cuyahoga Falls’ EclipseFest throughout the day.
But when the moon starts to cover the sun, they plan to return to their rooftop seats.
Worried about radiation from the eclipse? Don't be, NASA says
NASA is using part of its website to debunk myths about today's total solar eclipse, including worries about radiation.
When the disk of the moon fully covers the sun, NASA says, the brilliant corona emits only electromagnetic radiation, sometimes with a greenish hue.
"Being a million times fainter than the light from the sun itself, there is nothing in the coronal light that could cross 150 million kilometers of space ,penetrate our dense atmosphere, and cause blindness," the space agency said. "However, if you watched the sun before totality, you will catch a glimpse of the brilliant solar surface and this can cause (eye) retinal damage."
NASA points out that it's human instinct to quickly look away from the sun before any damage is done. But health officials urge people to wear special glasses to look at the sun leading up to the total eclipse.
The space agency said the electromagnetic radiation from the corona, seen as light, is "perfectly safe."
There is also another form of radiation that travels to Earth from the sun that is also safe.
"Deep in the solar interior where nuclear fusion takes place to light the sun, particles called neutrinos are born, and zip unimpeded out of the sun and into space," NASA said. "Every second, your body is pelted by trillions of these neutrinos no matter if the sun is above or below the horizon."
The only consequence, NASA said, is that a few atoms in your body are "transmuted into a different isotope by absorbing a neutrino."
" This is an entirely harmless effect," NASA said.
It does not harm people, including those who are pregnant, NASA said.
Mr. Funs having a good time with eclipse
Mr. Funs Costume & Curiosity Emporium on Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls has geared up for eclipse day as if it were a festival.
The shop received a bunch of eclipse-themed merchandise over the past three week. By Thursday, about 25% of the shirts, hats, magnets, tumblers and other gear had sold out.
Hunter Riggs showed us his store's eclipse gear.
Clearing skies, warming temperatures ahead of eclipse
Sunshine is moving from west to east after overnight rain in Greater Akron.
This picture was taken from the Beacon Journal offices downtown about 10 a.m.
Staff in Copley and Medina reported that skies iin their areas were already clear.
The National Weather Service office in Cleveland has forecast near-perfect weather this afternoon in Greater Akron. Not only will it be partly sunny, temperature will climb to a seasonably warm 72 degrees.
Dark Side of the Spoon
Retired Beacon Journal Reporter Jim Mackinnon, known for his puns in stories and around the newsroom, won a contest to name Strickland's eclipse-themed sundae: It's called Dark Side of the Spoon.
Strickland's announced the Mackinnon's winning name early this morning on Facebook.
The sundae − which includes vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and a Moon Pie surrounded by whipped cream clouds − is available today only between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Akron's four parks, downtown viewing location all booked
The city of Akron this morning said all eclipse viewing sites set up by the city − four parks and an expansive downtown parking lot near Spaghetti Warehouse − are completely booked with people who pre-registered.
All nine of the city's community centers, however, are open. People do not need to register in advance to visit those, Mayor Shammas Malik's office said on Facebook.
"Please stay safe on the roads today and be patient with out incoming visitors," the mayor's office said on Facebook. "Let's enjoy this rare
Reminder: No parking on state Route 8, Ohio Turnpike or other freeways
Digital signs this morning warned drivers on the Ohio Turnpike and state Route 8 not to stop along the roadways to watch the eclipse: “No shoulder parking."
On most any other day, few would ever think to stop along these busy routes for anything other than an emergency.
The solar eclipse, forecast for decades, is not an emergency.
Local officials have urged people to stay home and watch the eclipse from their own yards.
Northeast Ohio this weekend was already busy with travelers visiting to see the celestial phenomenon.
Norton Councilman Jamie Lukens Sunday noted his own experience Sunday on Facebook after visiting the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
"Well… today we went to Cuyahoga Valley NP on a whim just to do a hike and it was nutso up there already," Lukens wrote. "We were very surprised to see plates from Michigan, Virginia, Florida, NY and every state between."
Lukens wrote that he had been skeptical about the predicted influx of visitors for the eclipse, but the number of visitors to the park changed his mind.
"Honestly if you can watch from home tomorrow and avoid major cities I would recommend it!" he said in the post.
When was the last solar eclipse seen in Ohio?
For Ohioans, this is once-in a lifetime event. The last total solar eclipse visible here was in 1806, just three years after Ohio was named a U.S. state and 30 years before a fledgling Akron was incorporated as a village.
All of Greater Akron today is in the U.S. zone of totality, a thin band of area stretching from San Antonio, Texas, through Indianapolis and Northeast Ohio and on to Niagara Falls, New York.
Solar eclipse 2024 will bring unprecedented traffic to Akron, Cleveland
Because of the rarity of the total solar eclipse and the limited places to see see it in its totality, Northeast Ohio today is expected to be swamped today with visitors pouring in from central and southern Ohio, surrounding states, and other places beyond the zone of totality.
The Akron Beacon Journal has reporters and photographers stationed across the region covering Greater Akron watch parties, the celestial thrill at Cedar Point and the unprecedented sky show leading before 2024 home opener for the Cleveland Guardians.
Eclipse traffic: How bad will the roads get at the time of totality?
We'll also be following the weather, traffic jams and potential service interruptions, including cell phone service, as crowds descend on Northeast Ohio, searching for the best view of the eclipse.
Eclipse weather: What is the forecast today in Akron?
Rain and low-level clouds are currently moving throughout Northeast Ohio, according to a post on X from the National Weather Service in Cleveland. The rain should be gone by noon today and some low-level clouds will linger over Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania.
Temperatures across the region are expected to reach the low 70s today. There will be a brief drop in temperature during the solar eclipse's peak around 3 p.m. today but once the sun is uncovered, the temperature will rise again.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: When is the solar eclipse? Follow the April 8 phenomenon in Ohio
