Hoosier

Yeah, it was much worse getting out than getting in. There were people leaving where I was literally just a minute or two after totality ended, but I stuck around for about a half hour to watch some of the partial phase. Might have helped somewhat to get out immediately but oh well.

I had the same issue and I was only about 1 mile north of the center line. Also the camera didn't really pick up on the dimming light prior to totality. Then again, I didn't really put any effort into trying to adjust any camera settings.

Finally made it home at an obscene time last night. But you know what, I would do it again. It was cool to see Goreville IL, a town of about 1,000, transformed into a bustling place yesterday. I read that there were thousands of people there throughout town, and I believe it. People outside their houses with cameras and telescopes and numerous small and some larger viewing parties. I was thinking ahead to 2024 and how tempting it would be to get to the exact same spot, if feasible (they get about 4 mins totality). How many people can say they watched 2 total eclipses from the same location?

I have never seen as prolonged of a traffic cluster**** as I-57 northbound in Illinois now. I don't think I've gone more than 100 miles in 6 hours of driving.

I saw 3 accidents in a one block stretch between Carbondale and Marion IL. Crazy slow traffic.

I was amazed at how quickly the light faded in the final 30-60 seconds or so before totality. It's like someone hit an accelerator switch on the dimmer.

Totality over here. That. Was. Awesome.

There's a family with dogs next to me. Interested to see how they react.

At a church parking lot in Goreville, IL. Surroundings seem to be getting slightly dimmer.

Stopped at a gas station in Ashley, IL... tiny town and there was literally 25 people in line to use the bathroom. Almost totally clear skies as I drive south. Looking at maybe Goreville, IL so I don't have to go all the way to KY.

Cool... that's near my original target but am seriously contemplating a move into KY. Odds seem at least slightly better there. Gonna have to decide very soon. Waiting for early visible satellite images...

My hotel has quite a few eclipse chasers. People I talked to and others I overheard, and I'm in Maryland Heights, MO which is about a mile outside totality.

Agree, farther southeast should be better. Missouri is the real up for grabs area.

Question is which way do the Nebraska people go, especially chasers in the eastern part of the state. Do they head west or try to get east in Missouri/Illinois?

These maps are cool to watch the progression across the country. Huge decrease in the amount of incoming shortwave, even far outside the totality zone, followed by a big recovery.

That experimental RAP does separate into low, middle, and high level clouds for anyone who is interested https://rapidrefresh.noaa.gov/RAP/

This is kinda cool... a look back at how some newspapers covered the last coast to coast eclipse in 1918. The Topeka State Journal headline in particular, which told people that the next chance for a similar eclipse wouldn't be until 2017. https://m.mic.com/articles/amp/183041/heres-how-newspapers-around-the-country-covered-the-1918-solar-eclipse

St Louis afd seems more pessimistic. However they and Paducah mentioned how the models may be affected by not properly accounting for the reduced insolation. The HRRRx is supposed to be running with eclipse conditions so it will be interesting to see how it handles clouds/precip output around 18z Monday.

It's 4+ minutes on the center line from eastern Indiana southwestward. Almost 4 1/2 minutes by the time you get to Texas.

A little OT about the April 2024 total eclipse. If I did the proper research, it looks like that will be the longest duration total solar eclipse in the US since the June 16, 1806 total eclipse. A can't miss event, especially for anyone not able to get into the path of totality on Monday.

I'd def be feeling more confident around BNA.

I'm gonna have some degree of nervousness until I am viewing it. This isn't like missing a big snow where there's always some hope that the next one may come soon. We know we're not getting another shot at this for almost 7 years (at least in this country).

I thought I saw somebody in one of the forums saying they will be in Oregon. But you'll at least be one of the first. Incredible to think of how fast the shadow travels...

You can get these on regional views at TT

Even farther east... like Sainte Genevieve. It's basically on the Illinois border and if I'm trying to outrun clouds moving in from the west, then I may try to get farther away and head for KY.