# USA TSE, total solar eclipse: April 2024 (was "three years away for USA" when started) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 27, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873 "2021-03-27T21:36:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/201 "2024-01-31T02:02:38Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > Have you reserved a car rental yet? Better not tarry! Definitely! You will… NOT be the only person wishing to do that!! I keep obsessively checking our AirBnB reservation, thinking that the owners will realize “HEY, PROFIT!!!” and cancel the reservation in the hope of re-renting it for more money. I know that is a huge no-no, but still… With the place we used in 2017, my friend had her first reservation cancelled (likely for that same reason). Not AirBnB there, however. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/202 "2024-01-31T02:13:02Z")
I had to change my hotel reservation. I started reading reviews and as recent as last week they had bed bugs! Now I’m staying at Candlewood suites downtown. Cost quite a bit more but definitely worth it. And no, I haven’t got the car rental booked yet. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/203 "2024-01-31T17:19:31Z")
For some of the folks wondering about weather forecasts and why Texas isn’t all that much clearer than e.g. the northeast that time of year … The issue farther northeast is stratus overcast. The whole day will be nice or sucky and there’s no way to know which until it happens. In the southwest, the issue is cumulus / cumulonimbus. The day might be mostly lovely, but with even 30% coverage of drifting happy little puffy clouds or rainy showers, you’d have a 1 in 3 chance that one will be drifting by at just the wrong time at just the wrong place to give you a mostly-wasted trip. You’d get to experience the weird darkening sky, yet see none of the solar occlusion nor the totality corona display. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/204 "2024-01-31T18:14:55Z")
I just set up a week in Mazatlán surrounding the 8th. Beachfront hotel, etc. Oughta be good. I’m 65 and this is the first time I’ve traveled to an eclipse. I’ve had a partial pass over me at home once, but that’s the only eclipsing I’ve experienced. Even if the eclipse is obscured, one can hardly have a bad experience with a week in Mazatlán ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/205 "2024-01-31T18:32:18Z")
Excellent! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/206 "2024-01-31T18:41:52Z")
I’ll be about 10 clicks from the centerline of totality. No discernable difference in duration between my balcony vs. trekking out to the actual centerline. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/207 "2024-01-31T20:15:23Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The issue farther northeast is stratus overcast. The whole day will be nice or sucky and there’s no way to know which until it happens. > > In the southwest, the issue is cumulus / cumulonimbus. Very interesting. Not something I’d ever paid much attention to beyond noticing that overcast is much more common in winter here than in summer. Unfortunately, at this latitude April is more or less the transition period between winter-type skies and summer skies, with early April tending to still be hounded by the curse of winter cloudiness even as temperatures become much warmer. IOW, eclipse-wise, we’re probably doomed! ☹ ETA: Some discussion of weather probabilities here: > **[Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024 | Eclipsophile](https://eclipsophile.com/2024tse/)** > > Eclipsophile.com presents climate studies of cloud cover and weather along the tracks of upcoming solar eclipses in order to help select viewing locations and travel destinations. Cloud-cover maps and weather statistics are also available for popular... ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/208 "2024-01-31T21:30:10Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > In the southwest, the issue is cumulus / cumulonimbus. The day might be mostly lovely, but with even 30% coverage of drifting happy little puffy clouds or rainy showers, you’d have a 1 in 3 chance that one will be drifting by at just the wrong time at just the wrong place to give you a mostly-wasted trip. You’d get to experience the weird darkening sky, yet see none of the solar occlusion nor the totality corona display. In 2017, we were on the beach near Charleston, SC. My daughter was in Tennessee, somewhat south of Knoxville. We were texting back and forth as the eclipse approached - it was much clearer where she was. As noted, things cleared up near us JUST in time. I’m definitely nervous about the weather for our trip. I suspect it won’t be any better anywhere within a reasonable drive of where we are staying, though we’ll keep that as an option. Traffic shouldn’t be a huge problem, at least - the nearest big thing would be Montreal (65ish miles). Anything else large is 100 miles or more. Looking at the map that @wolfpup posted, the odds aren’t looking too good 😢 . ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/209 "2024-01-31T21:42:24Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > the odds aren’t looking too good 😢 . Sadly, I have neither the spare cash nor the spare air miles (thanks to sending my kid to Tokyo) to join @LSLGuy in Mazatlán. Although I suspect that if I did, there would be clear blue skies here and Mazatlán would be on hurricane watch. I’m a little like the L’il Abner character Joe Btfsplk, who always had a dark cloud following him around. So here I shall remain, hoping for a miracle. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/210 "2024-01-31T21:43:33Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Looking at the map that @wolfpup posted, the odds aren’t looking too good As near as I can tell, maybe 70% chance of clouds near me. Possibly 60% depending on where I land up. I should be a lot better able to decide whether it’s worth driving anywhere by looking at the weather maps that morning, however. At about 10 miles south of the totality line, if it’s cloudy I doubt there’ll be much difference between what I’ll notice at home and what I’ll see if I head north. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/211 "2024-01-31T22:08:36Z")
I finally bought airfare and booked a hotel. Today was nearly too late. All the cheap seats were sold, and i booked four of the last 7 seats on one flight. Half the hotels i looked at were sold out. So if you haven’t done that yet, do it soon. (I’m visiting a friend south of Indianapolis, but due to timing constraints, we’ll spend Monday night at an airport hotel.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/212 "2024-01-31T22:31:24Z")
Per @wolfpup 's cite I’m at ~26% chance of clouds at my chosen viewing area. I could have chosen Torreón out in the Mexican desert for the optimal 22%, but having been to Torreón, there’s no comparison w Mazatlán as a place to play while the Sun’s not going apeshit for 4 minutes. El Nino ought to improve things by 2-4%, so I’m optimistic. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > I finally bought airfare and booked a hotel. Today was nearly too late. All the cheap seats were sold, and i booked four of the last 7 seats on one flight. Half the hotels i looked at were sold out. Yeah. If my personal life had been different I’d have done this 6 months or a year ago. I paid more than expected for airfare, and got some of the last decently priced hotel rooms and had to choose one that caters to Mexicans, not Americans, to get it. The window is closing very rapidly almost no matter where you are. Anyone considering traveling to this needs to get butt in gear to make it happen or be priced (or locked) out of the chance. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/213 "2024-01-31T22:34:48Z")
For all of y’all coming to San Antonio, let’s have a Dopefest! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/214 "2024-01-31T22:37:23Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Per @wolfpup 's cite I’m at ~26% chance of clouds at my chosen viewing area. Interesting link. I’m looking at 65% cloud cover. I’m feeling lucky, though. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/215 "2024-01-31T22:37:41Z")
> [@Texas Hill Country Dope Fest! (San Antonio TX, “SATX”)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915): > > What’s the Who What When Where and Why for this? ◆ WHO — Dopers in or near San Antonio + partners / spouses / friends ◆ WHAT — Dope Fest Texas Hill Country. Let’s meet IRL! ◆ WHEN — Saturday April 6, 2024, at approx 12 noon ◆ WHERE — SATX area; exact location is TBD and depends on who’ll be there; if you’re coming then suggest a place (see below); location will be provided later in this thread ◆ WHY — to meet up in real life, in 3D, and get to know some other Dopers who we talk with here; a… There is one! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/216 "2024-01-31T23:08:30Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Per @wolfpup 's cite I’m at ~26% chance of clouds at my chosen viewing area. > > I could have chosen Torreón out in the Mexican desert for the optimal 22%, but having been to Torreón, there’s no comparison w Mazatlán as a place to play while the Sun’s not going apeshit for 4 minutes. I’m staying in to Durango, which is slightly worse than Mazatlan, but within driving distance of Torreón. I thought Durango looked quite interesting, I’m not much for beaches. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/217 "2024-01-31T23:51:18Z")
You can have a good time in Durango. Not a tourist city, but lots of interesting life nevertheless. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/218 "2024-02-01T00:26:48Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Sadly, I have neither the spare cash nor the spare air miles (thanks to sending my kid to Tokyo) to join @LSLGuy in Mazatlán Damn shame. We coulda been been huge! If anyone else in this thread chooses to go to Mazatlán let me know. I’ve got a beachfront hotel from the 2nd to the 10th with room for 3 more male people or about 6 more female people or a suitable mix of each :leer: 🤪 We could have quite the memorable multi-day Dopefest. Lodging contributions appreciated but very definitely _not_ required. If you can hack airfare for some of those days, come on down. Gotcha covered for the rest. Maybe we’ll remember to stagger outside on the 8th for the eclipse, and maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/219 "2024-02-01T02:53:40Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > ETA: Some discussion of weather probabilities here: > > [Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024 | Eclipsophile](https://eclipsophile.com/2024tse) Thanks for the site, @wolfpup . I’m looking at 40% median April cloud fraction for my plans. Not great. I’ll have to keep an eye on the weather, and if the skies look like they’ll be cloudy then I may need to drive SW or NE along the centerline to chase clearer skies. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/220 "2024-02-01T05:04:50Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’ve got a beachfront hotel from the 2nd to the 10th with room for 3 more male people or about 6 more female people or a suitable mix of each :leer: 🤪 I notice that you explicitly state “people”; your exclusion of Bernese Mountain Dog pups is sadly noted. ☹ > [@LSLGuy](#): > > We could have quite the memorable multi-day Dopefest. In all seriousness getting hammered on tequila and watching an eclipse in Mexico sounds like lots of fun! It regrettably is not in the cards for me. My limited funds are earmarked for extremely boring purposes, not to mention that my elderly car is pretending to be very reliable just to lull me into a false sense of security before it inevitably blows up due to old age, just like me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873.md?page=12)