MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Mid-South is just days away from the Great American Solar Eclipse, a moment capturing the attention of people all over the country. As a result, people are still preparing for that single moment.
ABC24 asked viewers on Nextdoor, Facebook, and Instagram what they wanted to know about the eclipse, in an effort to make sure they had everything they needed come April 8th.
Where is the closest place to Memphis in the path of Totality?
If you are in the path of Totality, you will get the chance to see 100% of the eclipse. Memphis will only see close to 98%, but according to the National Weather Service, cities like Little Rock and Jonesboro in Arkansas will see the entire phenomenon.
ABC24 will be live from Newport, Arkansas, right in the path of totality, only on 24+, our free streaming app for Roku, Amazon FireTV and Apple TV, starting at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 8.
For more information on where you can download 24+, visit HERE.
How cloudy will the sky be April 8th, and will it get in the way of the eclipse?
According to ABC24's team of meteorologists, calculating how cloudy the sky will be is difficult, even just a few days out. However compared to the rest of the country, the Memphis area likely will lean towards clearer skies.
"It's completely different from forecasting for just normal rainfall, We have to see exactly if we are looking for high clouds or low clouds and what people can expect. I will say that it is trending a little bit clearer here in Memphis specifically," said ABC24 Chief Meteorologist Danielle Moss. "We're not going to see those big cumulonimbus clouds that could really block our view. So while we could see some clouds in the sky, we're not looking at a completely mostly cloudy sky."
Are schools open or dismissing early for the eclipse?
The eclipse has been in the minds of some people for years, and some schools across the country will be letting out early or cancelling classes for the day all together - but not all of them, so check with your local districts.
In the Memphis area, Collierville schools will be closed, while places like Germantown Municipal School District will stay open. However GMSD said families can contact the schools to arrange an excused absence. School districts like Memphis Shelby County Schools and Bartlett City Schools will also remain open but have events planned around the eclipse throughout the day.
Where can I buy eclipse glasses?
Overwhelmingly, the biggest question on viewers was where to find eclipse glasses. At this point, glasses can be found almost anywhere. Local grocery stores like Kroger have glasses for sale, or you can find them on online retailers like Amazon.
The local Memphis Library system said Friday it has run out of glasses.