Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - When the Total Solar Eclipse happens on Monday, April 8, its centerline path of totality will pass right through parts of Western New York. That puts Buffalo at the epicenter of the once in a lifetime celestial event.
"The centerline is coveted by so many eclipse seekers," said Tim Collins, with the Eclipse Consortium and the 7th Magnitude Podcast.
See Interactive Google Map of Eclipse - Centerline in blue (ZOOM IN)
"I've been out visiting many businesses and residents to tell them that
they're on the centerline. In one case, I visited a local pharmacy and the pharmacist didn't have any idea that patients on critical meds should pick up their meds early because they won't have much of a chance to get through on April 8."
Collins likens it to being in a major blizzard. "We all know what that's like with
traffic. You need to stock up on food, water, etcetera, especially if you're stuck in your car."
He provided WBEN notable landmarks along the centerline path.
"The first one, as it touches New York State, is Buffalo Harbor State Park after it comes across Lake Erie. From there it travels to the Tesla Gigafactory and moves through South Buffalo to Cheektowaga, Depew (Harlequin Distribution Center), Bowmansville, Clarence, Akron, and Murray's Corner (near Newstead).
Because of that, traffic along Walden, William, and Transit Roads could become extra congested.
Will the centerline make that much of a difference for viewing? "It can," said Collins. "It makes a really big difference when you're on the edge of the path because you have seconds of totality as opposed to the three minutes and 46 seconds that you're going to have during the eclipse. The farther away you get from the line, the shorter your totality."
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