Eclipse Zip Code Tool – What You’ll See at Your Home in Louisiana

Monday's very much anticipated solar eclipse is growing closer and closer and all across Louisiana residents are making plans to either travel to the north or west for a better view. Or, they're deciding to stay put, see what they can see, and avoid the chaos and the crowds. It will all depend on what kind of "eclipse experience" you are hoping to find.

NASA has confirmed that no matter where you live in the 48 contiguous states you will experience some level of "shading" during Monday's eclipse. Those who live in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, as well as small parts of Kentucky, Michigan, and Tennessee, are along the path of totality.

Emergency planners in each of those states have already laid out their plans on how to handle the crowds that are expected. Many planners have warned that those making the trek for a better view of the moon's shadow should plan and make sure their cars are full of fuel and that they have secured lodging and brought snacks. There is a genuine concern that some restaurants along the Path of Totality will either be too crowded or might run out of food. 

What Will the Eclipse Look Like Where I Live in Louisiana?

For those not wanting to fight the crowds you don't have to. You will still get some sort of an eclipse experience just hanging at your house or where you work. What kind of an experience will you see?

You can find that out by using the Eclipse Tool from NASA. All you have to do is enter your zip code and the tool tells you how much of the eclipse you will experience from where you are.

In the Lafayette area "the tool" suggests we will see the eclipse begin at 12:26 pm. It's peak will happen at about 1:46 p.m. and the whole thing should be over by 3 p.m. Here's the graphic from NASA.gov.

The NASA Eclipse tool will work for any zip code in the United States so be sure and share that with your friends around the Gulf South so they can have an idea of when the best time to look up will happen for where they live.

The other major player in Monday's eclipse is Mother Nature. As of now, she is not cooperating with those who want a good view of the goings on above. The forecast for Monday for much of South Louisiana suggests a mostly cloudy sky with a chance of showers.

If you do plan on observing the eclipse, clouds or not, make sure you have adequate eye protection. You can still damage your vision even on a cloudy day if you don't take the proper precautions.