2024 solar eclipse in Elmira, Corning this afternoon: Live updates

The wait is nearly over.

New Yorkers will have the chance to view a potentially once-in-a-lifetime event this afternoon: a total solar eclipse.

The moon will pass directly between the Earth and the sun, creating a total solar eclipse which will block the face of the sun and darken the sky.

While Elmira and Corning are not in the direct path of totality, an impressive deep partial eclipse will still be visible, weather conditions permitting.

We'll be updating this story with live photos and local reaction as the day unfolds. Check back soon.

Elmira crowd witnesses eclipse at John W. Jones Museum

Some light sprinkles couldn't totally spoil the show as a crowd turned out to view the partial solar eclipse at the John W. Jones Museum in Elmira Monday.

The clouds seemed to rob the eclipse of some of its magic. The light dimmed and the temperature felt a little cooler, but otherwise it was hard to tell anything significant was happening, reported Jeff Murray from the scene.

“I don’t have much of a reaction. There was nothing to react to," said Cal Davis of Elmira. "It got darker. The street lights came on. It was nice being outdoors.”

Stay tuned for a photo gallery and additional reaction.

Crowds begin streaming into watch parties across Chemung County

Crowds were streaming into the John W. Jones Museum in Elmira Monday around 1:30 p.m., one of several watch parties planned throughout Chemung County.

The crowds were undeterred by heavy cloud cover in the area, hoping for a break later in the afternoon when the eclipse rolls through the region shortly after 3:20 p.m.

The museum will offer free eclipse viewing on its front lawn from 2-4:30 p.m. Free eclipse glasses will also be offered to the first 100 participants.

“We’re a community museum. We want to offer the community what we have," said Talima Aaron, president of the John Jones Museum. "We have land, two acres. The Chamber of Commerce gave us 100 pairs of glasses. This is something we can offer free to the public. It’s an historic moment and this is a historic site.”

Other events happening now in Chemung County:

• Wings of Eagles Discovery Center: Eclipse watch party, 2-4:30 p.m. Eclipse T-shirts and eclipse glasses available. Registration required. There will also be an educational event for students K-8 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• National Soaring Museum: Free admission April 8. Eclipse glasses will be available.
• Chemung Valley History Museum: A new exhibit on the 1925 total solar eclipse, which was visible from Elmira, is on display now and will remain until July 27.
• Newtown Battlefield State Park: The park is open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk and provides a good eclipse viewing option. In case of winter driving conditions, access into the park is by foot only, with parking outside the entry gate.

What's going on across the country?

The USA TODAY Network will be following the eclipse from southern Texas to northern Maine. Find more coverage here: www.usatoday.com/news/solar-eclipse-2024.

The rare event − where the shadow of the moon plunges a narrow strip of land into darkness in the middle of the day − is an astronomical experience like no other that will be unusually accessible to millions of people.

What is the eclipse weather forecast for the Elmira-Corning region?

Keep checking our Accuweather forecast for the latest weather updates. And cross your fingers for clear skies!

How will your dog react during the eclipse?

Jeff Reibert, pet supplies buyer for CountryMax, a New York-based farm supply and feed store said in a release that on a normal day, dogs don’t try to look at the sun, making it unlikely they will during the eclipse. But like their human counterparts if they do there could be damage to their eyes. The advice is to keep pets inside during the eclipse. He noted to watch for excessive barking, cowering or signs of stress.

Sun visible in Chemung County, but will it last?

Despite some cloud cover in the area, the sun was visible above Chemung County around 10 a.m. Monday.

However, Jim Brewster, Senior Service Hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Binghamton covering the Southern Tier, said significant cloud cover is expected for the afternoon, though it is possible there will be holes through which to view the eclipse.

"The sky forecast for Central New York is not looking promising for a great view of the eclipse," Brewster said Monday morning. "We're expecting a significant coverage of middle and high clouds this afternoon, but hoping there will be thinning or several holes."

Keep those fingers crossed.

Chance of clear skies in Elmira, Corning for eclipse

The Southern Tier region's climate history suggests there will be clouds on April 8. And as of Monday morning, the National Weather Service forecast for the eclipse is cloudy.

The Elmira and Corning forecasts both call for mostly cloudy skies with a high near 61 degrees.

Coming off an early April storm that brought heavy rain and wind to the region, an AccuWeather forecast suggests the clear zone that develops in its wake could be in "just the right spot" for good viewing conditions for the eclipse.

Elmira, Corning will see partial solar eclipse after 3 p.m.

The path of totality will enter in the southwestern part of New York just after 3:15 p.m. April 8 and will depart northern New York just before 3:30 p.m.

Most towns in the Elmira and Corning areas will begin to glimpse the peak of the eclipse starting around 3:22 p.m. The eclipse will start at 2:07:30 p.m. in Elmira, peak at 3:22:30 p.m. and end at 4:34 p.m. In Corning, the eclipse begins at 2:07 p.m., reaches maximum coverage at 3:22 p.m. and ends at 4:33 p.m.

Find specific viewing times across the Southern Tier and the rest of New York here or search by zip code.

Elmira eclipse preview:Your ultimate guide to viewing the 2024 partial solar eclipse in Elmira, New York

Corning eclipse preview:Your ultimate guide to viewing the 2024 partial solar eclipse in Corning, New York

Share your photos

If you have photos of your family viewing the eclipse and would like to share them with The Leader or the Star-Gazette, email events@the-leader.com or sgnews@gannett.com

They may appear in print or in an online photo gallery.

-- This live blog will be updated throughout the day.