The path of totality for the upcoming solar eclipse has shifted after more accurate calculations were made by a solar eclipse expert, and several areas in the U.S. originally believing they were within the path of totality are now outside of it.
On Monday, April 8, the moon will be positioned so that the entire disc of the sun will be blocked in several states, plunging millions of people into darkness during the early afternoon. The path of totality, i.e. when the sun is entirely blocked out, will start in Mexico and extend across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine before heading over the North Atlantic.
The event is expected to draw large crowds as people head to areas in the path of totality to witness the eclipse. Officials have voiced concerns about stretched public safety resources and an "enormous strain" on local hospitals and congested roadways. At least four states have urged residents to stock up on groceries and gas and to fill medical prescriptions in the days leading up to the eclipse, as it is expected that traffic could overwhelm local roads.
Just a week before the event, eclipse calculations expert John Irwin updated the path of totality map with a slight but significant change. Many locations previously expected to be within the path of totality are now just outside of it, while others that weren't expecting to be included now are.
Texas
People living along the path of totality's northern edge through central Texas now have to travel slightly to observe the total eclipse. This includes suburbs northwest of Fort Worth, areas located on the outskirts of Dallas such as parts of Denton, and the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. The southern path expands near San Antonio and Austin, but shortly after that, it begins to narrow again through the rest of the U.S.
Oklahoma
The solar eclipse path of totality cuts through the southeast corner of Oklahoma. Under the new map, areas like Utica, Bennington, and Tuskahoma could be outside of the path of totality.
Arkansas
Cities along the path of totality's border in the northwest corner of the state could have to travel for the eclipse. For example, less of the Ozark St. Francis National Forest will experience the path of totality. On the southern line of the path, Little Rock is still within the path of totality, but some outskirt cities like Wrightsville may now have less exposure to the eclipse.
Missouri
In Missouri, the eclipse passes through the southeast corner. Residents in areas outside of St. Louis, like Fayetteville and parts of New Memphis, will now have to travel to see the total eclipse.
Illinois
Southeastern Illinois is within the path of totality. Areas like Effingham and Paris are impacted by the new map.
Indiana
The eclipse will occur in a path extending from southwestern Indiana through the central and eastern part of the state. Parts of Turkey Run State Park, Crawfordsville, Frankfort, Kokomo and Fort Wayne are now outside the path of totality.
Ohio
Part of northern Cincinnati will now be outside the total eclipse line. Columbus and Youngstown also will be affected.
New York
Less of Syracuse will be within the path of totality, as will many other communities like Rome and part of the Black River Wild Forest and the Siamese Ponds Wilderness.
Pennsylvania
The outskirts of Cooperstown, New Lebanon and certain areas of the Allegheny National Forest are now outside of the path, as well as many other communities.
Vermont
Parts of Barre and Northfield are now outside of the path of totality.
New Hampshire
Mount Cabot and Milan Hill State Park are now outside of the path of totality.
Maine
Phillips, New Portland, Solon and part of Lambert Lake are outside of the path of totality.
Even if cities are outside of the path of totality now, they will still be able to observe the eclipse. However, the moon will not fully block the sun in those areas.
"John Irwin's map tries to represent reality more closely than other maps. The eclipse map did not really change: it is just computed in a more accurate way," a spokesperson from Besselian Elements, which published the map, told Newsweek. "John Irwin's eclipse map is computed using a value of the eclipse solar radius slightly larger than the traditional value and it accounts for the topography of both the lunar limb and of Earth. The lunar limb is not smooth but it has a complex profile with mountains and valleys.
"Other eclipse maps use the traditional eclipse solar radius and the eclipse path limits they depict usually do not account for the topography of the lunar limb (they use a smooth lunar limb without mountains or valleys)," the statement added. "Recent experimental determinations support a value slightly larger than the traditional value and John Irwin's map uses its most likely value."
The map is not expected to change again before the eclipse occurs next week.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
