{"id":18911,"date":"2017-06-21T17:52:54","date_gmt":"2017-06-21T09:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/its-t-minus-2-months-to-solar-eclipse-officials-brace-for-totality-traffic-jams\/"},"modified":"2017-06-21T17:52:54","modified_gmt":"2017-06-21T09:52:54","slug":"its-t-minus-2-months-to-solar-eclipse-officials-brace-for-totality-traffic-jams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/its-t-minus-2-months-to-solar-eclipse-officials-brace-for-totality-traffic-jams\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s T-minus-2 months to solar eclipse: Officials brace for totality traffic jams"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
The moon\u2019s shadow cones during a total solar eclipse. Observers on Earth
within the smaller, central shadow, or umbra, see a total eclipse. Within the larger shadow, the
penumbra, observers see a partial eclipse. Credit: NASA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The all-American total solar eclipse is still two months away, but federal and state agencies are already getting the word out about how eclipse-chasers can keep safe and sane.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been 99 years since the last total solar eclipse swept across America from coast to coast, so there\u2019s little precedent available for modern-day planning. But the Department of Transportation is predicting that on Aug. 21, the day of the eclipse, interstate highways in the path of totality could be flooded with many more drivers than the 2 million people per day who typically travel those routes.<\/p>\n

The big message? Be prepared.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a time to just show up on the spur of the moment \u2026 not a time to just pull off on the side of the road,\u201d Martin Knopp, associate administrator for operations at the Federal Highway Administration, said today during a pre-eclipse news briefing organized by NASA.<\/p>\n

\"Eclipse
This map projects how busy traffic will be along the track of totality on Aug. 21, the date of the solar eclipse. The color scale goes from an easygoing green to jammed-up red. (Google Maps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Knopp said that drivers should be watchful on the roads, not only for other drivers, but for pedestrians as well. \u201cWe lose too many lives on the highways already,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The biggest hot spots are likely to include Nashville, Tenn., the largest city in the direct path of totality; and central Oregon, which is currently projected to have the highest chance of clear skies.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s way too early to predict the weather for Aug. 21. But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which owns and operates the nation\u2019s weather satellites, says historical records hint at a higher chance of cloudiness along the coasts, and a progressively higher chance of clouds as the inland track of totality goes from east to west.<\/p>\n

That points to three central Oregon counties \u2013 Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook \u2013 as ground zero for eclipse-chasers. Peter Murphy, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said officials are planning for 1 million visitors to the state on Aug. 21, and 250,000 visitors to the tri-county area. That influx would double the area\u2019s population, he noted.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like two Woodstocks in the state, and three Rose Bowls at one time in our area,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Weather
This map projects the chances of cloudiness along Aug. 21\u2019s track of totality, based on historical data. Darker circles denote a higher chance of clouds in late August. It\u2019s too early for an actual weather forecast, however. (NOAA Graphic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To keep traffic moving, Oregon DOT will station crews at strategic spots along Highways 97, 26 and 20 on eclipse day, Murphy said. The agency is planning to use websites, social-media accounts and its TripCheck and 511 mobile services to update travelers on road conditions, based on data harvested from cell phones.<\/p>\n

Murphy said travelers should try to settle in one place for Aug. 21. \u201cWe\u2019re asking people to arrive early and plan on staying for a while,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t want \u2018day-of\u2019 travel. We\u2019re really urging people not to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are a few tips for planning eclipse travel:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Check the weather forecast a couple of days ahead, and plan your eclipse-chasing strategy accordingly.<\/li>\n
  • Many road construction crews will be stopping work on eclipse day, but that doesn\u2019t mean the work zones are going away. Expect delays.<\/li>\n
  • Stock up on food and water for the trip, and plan your bathroom breaks as well. \u201cPeople need to know where they\u2019re going to \u2018go\u2019 along the way,\u201d Murphy said.<\/li>\n
  • Don\u2019t plan on pulling over to the side of the road to watch the eclipse. And definitely don\u2019t try looking at the sun while driving.<\/li>\n
  • The path of totality crosses 20 national parks, which could serve as great destinations for travel. But  again, plan ahead.<\/li>\n
  • Turn on your headlights for totality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The safety measures shouldn\u2019t stop after getting out of the car at your viewing location. Don\u2019t gaze at the sun during the partial phase of the eclipse unless you\u2019re wearing eye protection. You should take off your eclipse glasses if the sun is completely covered, but put them back on when totality ends.<\/p>\n

    Read more<\/strong>: 3 things you should do for the solar eclipse<\/h4>\n

    Millions of eclipse glasses will be distributed through public libraries and organizations such as Astronomers Without Borders. You can also buy the glasses online or at stores. If you have young children, practice using the glasses in advance so they\u2019re ready for the big day.<\/p>\n

    You can also download a free educational guide to the eclipse, courtesy of the Moore Foundation and the Space Science Institute.<\/p>\n

    For those who are unable to reserve a hotel room or a campsite for Aug. 21, or those wanting to avoid the traffic altogether, NASA will be streaming live video of the total solar eclipse from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. PT on that day. It\u2019s all part of a campaign called \u201cEclipse Across America: Through the Eyes of NASA.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The moon\u2019s shadow cones during a total solar eclipse. Observers on Earthwithin the smaller, central shadow, or umbra, see a total eclipse. Within the larger shadow, thepenumbra, observers see a partial eclipse. Credit: NASA The all-American total solar eclipse is still two months away, but federal and state agencies are already getting the word out […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[190,975,1418,5387,4883,4465],"class_list":["post-18911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-nasa","tag-noaa","tag-solar-eclipse","tag-traffic","tag-transportation","tag-travel"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18911"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18911"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18911\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}