Achi news desk-
As a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse closes in on parts of eastern Canada, several cities across Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick are preparing for an influx of sightseers who plan to stand in complete darkness across the path of totality in April. 8.
The celestial event will first hit Ontario from the south just before 2 pm EDT on Monday and leave Newfoundland just after 5 pm EDT, or 6:30 pm NDT.
Hotspots such as Niagara Falls and Kingston, Ont., Montreal, Que., and Fredericton, N.C., will get maximum coverage with some experiencing it for as long as three and a half minutes as the moon passes between the sun and the Earth.
Should the weather cooperate, state and local police services are preparing for full roads and possible bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Here’s more about what to expect at the most popular spots hosting viewing events.
Expected Total Maximum (maximum solar coverage): 3 minutes. 43 seconds. between 3:18pm and 3:21pm EDT
Fort Erie, Ont., the Ontario municipality will have the best line of sight for the path of totality, which corresponds to the longest time under darkness: close to four minutes.
The northeastern shores of Lake Erie and the southeastern Niagara Peninsula will also have three-plus minutes total.
The last time the Fort Erie area saw a solar eclipse was in 1925 and there won’t be another until 2144.
Expected Total Maximum (maximum solar coverage): 1 minute. 47 seconds. between 3:18pm and 3:20pm EDT
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Hamilton, Ont., will be right on the northern edge of the path and will see the first piece of the moon’s shadow just before 2:04 pm and experience totality at 3:18 pm for about two minutes.
Hamilton has designated four major parks, some conservation areas and Tim Hortons Field as ideal viewing sites. Although a numerical estimate is not available, a city official said “large crowds” are expected and, as of Friday, all 10,000 reserved seats at Tim Hortons Field had been accounted for.
Another total eclipse will not be seen in Hamilton for another 120 years.
Expected Total Maximum (maximum solar coverage): 3 minutes. 32 seconds. between 3:18pm and 3:21pm EDT
The eclipse will begin its partial phase in Niagara Falls, Ont., at 2:04 pm on Monday and reach totality at 3:18 pm lasting about three and a half minutes.
In January, National Geographic tagged the spot as the “most beautiful” place to view the eclipse with ideal vantage points and the “iconic waterfalls thundering in the background.”
With the city a reasonable distance from half the population of North America, the spot is an attractive location that could attract hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Were clouds clear in time for totality still up in the sky at 9 am on Monday. Global News Chief Meteorologist Anthony Farnell said low mid-level clouds will develop in the late morning before clearing in the afternoon – the question remains as to exactly when that clearing will occur.
The last time Niagara Falls saw a solar eclipse was in 1925 and there won’t be another until 2144.
Expected Total Maximum (maximum solar coverage): 2 minutes. 52 seconds. between 3:22pm and 3:23pm EDT
Kingston, Ont., will see the first partial phase of the event at 2:09 pm on Monday with a path of totality arriving at 3:22 pm lasting just under three minutes.
Between 70,000 and 500,000 people are expected to travel to the community of around 170,000, depending on the forecast.
Residents have been asked to avoid driving on Monday and there will be plans to effectively close roads to ensure that routes to the hospital remain open.
Expected Total Maximum (maximum solar coverage): 1 minute. 26 seconds. between 3:26pm and 3:27pm EDT
Montreal, Que., will also be right on the northern edge of the path of totality with a partial period starting at 2:14 pm on Monday before reaching total darkness just before 3:27 pm lasting about a minute and a half.
The city’s Espace pour la Vie, which includes five natural museums, has joined the Parc Jean-Drapeau to host what could be up to 80,000 people.
According to the city, the last total eclipse occurred in Montreal in 1932.
Other Quebec municipalities in the path of totality include Sherbrooke, Lac-Mégantic, and Cap-aux-Meules with the total solar eclipse occurring between 3:25 and 3:40 pm. depending on the region.
Expected Total Maximum (maximum solar coverage): 2 min. 12 seconds. between 4:33pm and 4:35pm ADT
The first sighting in Fredericton, NB, begins with a partial phase emerging at 3:23 pm local time on Monday with a path of totality checking in at 4:33 pm lasting just over two minutes.
Other areas that will test a total of 100 percent include Woodstock, Florenceville-Bristol and Miramichi.
Each of those locations will see sunlight covered by the moon for just over three minutes.
— With files from Global News’ Shane Gibson, Annabelle Olivier and Rebecca Lau.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
