WASHINGTON — Fewer than 70 days are left until the total solar eclipse brings the shadow of the moon directly across several states.
On April 8, a total solar eclipse will cast the shadow of the moon, commonly called the Umbra, on a narrow path across the Earth. The result will be the path of totality reaching communities from Texas to Maine. All 48 contiguous states on that date will experience at least a partial solar eclipse.
According to NASA, an estimated 31.6 million people live in the path of totality this year, compared to 12 million in the path of the 2017 eclipse. Totality in April's eclipse will also last longer than it did in 2017.
Seven years ago, the longest period of totality was near Carbondale, Illinois, at 2 minutes, 42 seconds.
Who will experience the longest time in totality during the eclipse?
The maximum totality will last up to 4 minutes, 28 seconds, in an area about 25 minutes northwest of Torreón, Mexico.
Across the U.S., durations longer than 4 minutes will stretch from Texas as far north as Economy, Indiana, according to NASA. Even as the eclipse leaves the U.S. and enters Canada, totality in the center of the path will last up to 3 minutes, 21 seconds.
Here are some of the top cities with the greatest time in totality (in minutes), according to the National Solar Observatory and Eclipse2024.org:
- Uvalde, Texas - 4:15
- Ingram, Texas - 4:25
- Gatesville, Texas - 4:23
- Sulphur Springs, Texas - 4:20
- Idabel, Oklahoma - 4:18
- Broken Bow, Oklahoma - 4:16
- Atkins, Arkansas - 4:15
- Hot Springs, Arkansas - 3:36
- Little Rock, Arkansas - 2:21
- Cape Girardeau, Missouri - 4:05
- Jackson, Missouri - 4:10
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri - 4:08
- Wickliffe, Kentucky - 2:44
- Henderson, Kentucky - 2:30
- Vincennes, Indiana - 4:05
- Carbondale, Illinois - 4:09
- Evansville, Indiana - 3:02
- Indianapolis, Indiana - 3:48
- Bloomington, Indiana - 4:02
- Forest, Ohio - 3:56
- Upper Sandusky, Ohio - 3:55
- Norwalk, Ohio - 3:54
- Tiffin, Ohio - 3:52
- Findlay, Ohio - 3:44
- Dayton, Ohio - 2:42
- Cleveland, Ohio - 3:49
- Erie, Pennsylvania - 3:42
- Niagara Falls - 3:30
- Buffalo, New York - 3:45
- Orchard Park, New York - 3:43
- Rochester, New York - 3:41
- Watertown, New York - 3:38
- Burlington, Vermont - 3:14
- Dixville Notch, New Hampshire - 2:47
- Houlton, Maine - 3:20
There are many online resources and maps to figure out how long the eclipse will last near you. On Eclipse2024.org, you can type in your city or town and find precise timings and simulations.
For anyone who plans to view the eclipse, you must have properly certified solar glasses to do so safely.
WTOL's Chris Vickers contributed to this report.