Total solar eclipse 2017

Starting to get a tad wacky here in Independence Oregon - was walking this morning and the city workers were stringing lights for the 125 camping spots whose defining lines they've already marked in a field. Have another 45 spots for motor homes by the park. Center line of totality is about 1.5 miles south of town. We will be about 1/4 mile south of that line on a hill at my sister/BILs place.
 
Ronstar said:
2nd graphic map from the top
Click to expand...
The one where you click on a place and it gives you a box with "Viewable" and "Obscuration"? I assume the latter is the moon covering the sun, because everything in totality shows 100%. Is Viewable the cloud cover? That doesn't match the weather.gov map on the source I showed. Or is it something else? I know there are other windows in that box that you can scroll too, but I can't even guess what they are trying to tell me.
 
RunningBum said:
The one where you click on a place and it gives you a box with "Viewable" and "Obscuration"? I assume the latter is the moon covering the sun, because everything in totality shows 100%. Is Viewable the cloud cover? That doesn't match the weather.gov map on the source I showed. Or is it something else? I know there are other windows in that box that you can scroll too, but I can't even guess what they are trying to tell me.
Click to expand...

I use Intellicast. Choose the "Graph" tab, then choose Customize in the top right and tick the box for Cloud Cover. Not looking to good for Chas.....

Intellicast - Charleston Weather Report in South Carolina (29406)
 
RunningBum said:
The one where you click on a place and it gives you a box with "Viewable" and "Obscuration"? I assume the latter is the moon covering the sun, because everything in totality shows 100%. Is Viewable the cloud cover? That doesn't match the weather.gov map on the source I showed. Or is it something else? I know there are other windows in that box that you can scroll too, but I can't even guess what they are trying to tell me.
Click to expand...

This map
 

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Honestly we have had so much rain this summer, with thunderstorms nearly every day (or so it seems), that it is hard for me to imagine that we would have clear skies. Wunderground says 60% chance of thunderstorms on "Eclipse Day", and Accuweather says "Some sun with a thunderstorm". All in all, we will take what we can get. :)

The plan is for me to walk 20 feet from my back door to F's patio, and we will watch it from there. He has eclipse glasses for both of us, and eclipse filters for his telescopes which he plans to set up on the patio. If it is overcast, no telescopes. If it is raining, we can watch from inside. The eclipse will only be about 75% for us.

We always have so much fun no matter what we are up to, and I am sure we will on Eclipse Day.
 
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Weather looks like it's going to come down to luck, for most places.

If they're predicting 40% cloud cover for a general area, that means someone a mile away (in the other 60%) might have a perfectly clear view. I bet the traffic casualties will be precipitated (hehe!) by people trying to move at the last minute.
 
I'll be in Seattle visiting my sister. Originally we were going to drive down to Oregon but I don't want to get stuck on the highway. I think the back roads will be just as bad because every little hotel/motel in the viewing area is full.
 
I was originally planning on the Columbia, SC area but now heading to St. Louis area as looks like a better bet. And a shorter drive to boot. Will be leaving on Sunday so still time to change plan if needed.
 
Still trying to decide whether to stay put at a 96% location in northern Wyoming or drive south down I-25 to Casper for totality. Can't imagine that the traffic south of Buffalo on the way down would be much for an easterner to sneeze at. but also would hate to muck up the day somehow (though I guess at worst I would pull over to the side of the road and maybe get 30 seconds of totality rather than 2.5 minutes). Will probably decide that morning based on forecasts, etc.
 
stepford said:
The last total eclipse I saw was about 45 years ago. Summer of '72 my Dad drove me up to far northeastern Quebec to watch the eclipse. Mom and sisters didn't show much interest and stayed home, In fact, unlike the upcoming extravaganza most folks didn't seem to show a whole lot of interest and I recall almost no crowds, nor difficulty finding spontaneous roadside lodging. Anyway, the weather was marginal and I still remember my Dad blasting along some highway in the Gaspe peninsula in our boat-like family sedan racing to get out from under clouds. Didn't see another car and we were able to get into the clear about 20 minutes before totality.

A cool father-son adventure to be sure.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Taking a roady with my ole man, although he just recently retired at 65 and I am 36 but it will be fun.
 
FIREmenow said:
I use Intellicast. Choose the "Graph" tab, then choose Customize in the top right and tick the box for Cloud Cover. Not looking to good for Chas.....

Intellicast - Charleston Weather Report in South Carolina (29406)
Click to expand...

Nice site - I used Intellicast years ago but somewhere along the way forgot about it.

Anyway, per this data the cloud cover forecast on I-75 in TN is improving and on I-85 in SC is deteriorating since yesterday.

I think I've settled on going to my old neighbor's house in west Knoxville and branching out from there. My old house has 1:20 min of totality and very interestingly I can drive just 5 mins down the road to a big park for 1:35 min. And I'll be on the north end of the hot zone on I-75 and maybe can get out of dodge.

Nationwide, I suspect the gridlock will be much worse after totality than before - folks should be arriving at various viewing spots all morning and early afternoon, and bug out right after totality all at the same time.
 
calmloki said:
Starting to get a tad wacky here in Independence Oregon - was walking this morning and the city workers were stringing lights for the 125 camping spots whose defining lines they've already marked in a field. Have another 45 spots for motor homes by the park. Center line of totality is about 1.5 miles south of town. We will be about 1/4 mile south of that line on a hill at my sister/BILs place.
Click to expand...



Heard Salem is allowing free camping in city parks. Nice for those paying $300+ per night for a dumpy room
 
USGrant1962 said:
Anyway, per this data the cloud cover forecast on I-75 in TN is improving and on I-85 in SC is deteriorating since yesterday.

I think I've settled on going to my old neighbor's house in west Knoxville and branching out from there. My old house has 1:20 min of totality and very interestingly I can drive just 5 mins down the road to a big park for 1:35 min. And I'll be on the north end of the hot zone on I-75 and maybe can get out of dodge.

Nationwide, I suspect the gridlock will be much worse after totality than before - folks should be arriving at various viewing spots all morning and early afternoon, and bug out right after totality all at the same time.
Click to expand...
That's what I'm pretty much seeing too. I-85 doesn't look as bad as I-95, but I-75/I-40 around Knoxville look a lot safer. I'm seeing a bit bitter outlook at I-40 than I-75 after the split. Thinking if we don't go too far in, maybe we can beat a lot of the crowd back out. Problem is, probably everyone driving from anywhere in the NE has the same idea and will be on I-81.
 
I'm walking out on my deck and looking up. We're right in the path of totality.
 
Local news reporting already backups in LaPine/ Highway 97 and Prineville/ Highway 26: 800 cars per hour and 30 mile backup. Over 1 million people expected in Oregon for this!
 
pacergal said:
Local news reporting already backups in LaPine/ Highway 97 and Prineville/ Highway 26: 800 cars per hour and 30 mile backup. Over 1 million people expected in Oregon for this!
Click to expand...

Ugh. That's not at all where I'm going but that's probably indicative of what it's going to be like most places.
 
pacergal said:
Local news reporting already backups in LaPine/ Highway 97 and Prineville/ Highway 26: 800 cars per hour and 30 mile backup. Over 1 million people expected in Oregon for this!
Click to expand...

No doubt many people will be planning on going but I doubt the vast majority are on the road yet. According to local news, US26 has been a mess since yesterday due to a concert/festival event in the area with traffic being rerouted. Google traffic says Highway 97 is in good shape. Sorry, just had to check as seemed a bit odd, and I am planning on being one of those on the road but not until Sunday.
 
^ At first I didn't think that there would be a travel problem on eclipse day, but seeing this has given me different thoughts. Thanks for posting.
 
In case you're wondering why we don't have an eclipse every month, here's a quick explaination of why:
 
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