RECAP: 2024 total solar eclipse wows crowds across North Texas

Hundreds of thousands in North Texas watched as the Monday morning clouds parted, and for about four dazzling minutes, the moon blocked out the sun.

Crowds that gathered to experience the total solar eclipse gasped and cheered.

Solar flares were visible to the naked eye. The temperature dropped. And briefly, in the middle of the afternoon, it was night.

After all the anticipation and preparation, all eyes were on the sky.

The eclipse began around 1:40 p.m. in Dallas and lasted around four minutes.

As the city went dark, 7,000 people watched from the Perot Museum in Downtown Dallas. Those cheers were magnified at Klyde Warren Park where a crowd of about 20,000 took it all in. 

The darkness triggered automatic lights in office buildings and streetlamps to turn on as if it was night.

The weather turned out not be a problem.

Most eclipse watchers in the path of totality in North Texas had a clear view of the once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.

After those few minutes, people were still soaking in what they witnessed.

It was an experience Tessa Wolff won't soon forget when she gets home to Oakland, California. 

"It was amazing! But also a bit scary and also a bit surprising," she said.

"I told her, ‘We’ll never see this kind of thing ever again. We’ll never see the moon all the way covering the sun ever again, probably.’ So it was really special," said Sara Goldware, who came from California.

Others made a short drive just in time for totality. 

"I just wanted them to be able to experience this," said Houston visitor Banesa Lugo. "I don’t know when we’re going to be able to see something like this again, so I think it’s totally worth it."

Further south in Ennis, the crowd experienced the longest totality in our area at 4 minutes and 23 seconds.

The city’s location on the path of totality attracted visitors from all over the world, including Jeremy Samuel from Australia.

"It’s actually kind of hard to describe," he said. "It was this silent moment of awe, and it was beautiful."

A day thousands came together to experience a moment no one will forget.

FOX 4 brought you live coverage from across the path of totality for a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Did you capture some out-of-this-world video of the celestial event? You can share it with FOX 4 by sending it to kdfw@fox.com and you could see it on air or online!

Eclipse Day Coverage

6:31 p.m.: Totality from above

5:45 p.m.: UT Arlington crowd takes in eclipse

A crowd of hundreds took in the solar eclipse at the University of Texas at Arlington.

5:30 p.m.: Thousands come to North Texas for solar eclipse

People from around the world came to Dallas and Fort Worth for a chance to see the solar eclipse.

5:23 p.m.: Families take in the eclipse together

FOX 4 reporter Lori Brown had the opportunity to experience Monday's eclipse with her children at Canyon Creek Elementary School in Richardson.

Children at the school had a pretty incredible reaction.

5:20 p.m.: Ennis crowds wowed by eclipse

Thousands of people watched the total solar eclipse in Ennis, which had one of the longest periods of totality in the area.

Visitors from all around the world came to the North Texas town and took in the amazing moment.

5:05 p.m.: Baby born during solar eclipse

A baby born during the solar eclipse in Mansfield got a fitting name.

Alicia Alvarez gave birth to her new baby, Sol, shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday.

Alvarez was not expected to give birth until next week.

READ MORE: https://www.fox4news.com/news/mansfield-baby-born-during-eclipse-named-sol

4:43 p.m.: Downtown Dallas Eclipse Reaction

Here's how the crowd at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science reacted to the moment the moon covered the sun.

4:41 p.m.: Big Tex and the Solar Eclipse

3:33 p.m.: Traffic issues averted following eclipse

There were concerns after standstill traffic in 2017, but there don't appear to be any issues on the roads in North Texas.

3:02 p.m.: Solar Eclipse Ends

The solar eclipse in North Texas has come to an end. 

Stay tuned to FOX 4 for more information on events of the day and more.

2:38 p.m.: ERCOT sees drop in solar, wind energy

Texas power grid operator ERCOT saw a large dip in solar and wind energy during today's solar eclipse.

You can see the generated solar energy drop significantly between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The committed capacity dropped from 64,000 MW at 12:40 p.m. to 54,000 MW at 1:45 p.m., the minute after the eclipse.

2:27 p.m.: What do I do with my solar eclipse glasses

Done with your solar eclipse glasses?

According to Earth911.com, you can also choose to recycle your eclipse glasses by removing the protective solar-filter lenses and tossing paper frames into a recycling bin. 

You can also reuse the glasses as long as they are compliant with the ISO 12312-2 safety standard and are not ripped or torn.

2:09 p.m.: When is the next eclipse?

Now that the Great North American eclipse is behind us, many are wondering how long we’ll have to wait for another one in the U.S. (Spoiler: a long time)

Americans have two decades to look forward to the next total solar eclipse, but you don’t have to wait that long if you’re willing to travel. 

The next total solar eclipse in the U.S. is on March 30, 2033, but the path of totality will only cross over Alaska and Russia. 

After 2024, NASA says the next total solar eclipse visible from any point in the contiguous United States will occur in 2044. Totality will only be visible from North Dakota and Montana.

The next total solar eclipse that will travel across the lower 48 states from coast to coast is in 2045. ​

2:02 p.m.: Reaction to the eclipse

FOX 4's David Sentendrey gets emotional describing his reaction to see the eclipse at the Dallas Arboretum.

1:54 p.m.: Totality in Ennis Timelapse

See the moment of totality in Ennis, Texas.

1:40 p.m.: Totality in Ennis

An amazing sight in Ennis! 

The moon's shadow has completely covered the sun!

1:31 p.m.: Baily's Beads and the Diamond Ring

Totality is just minutes away.

The final moments before totality include displays of light known as Baily's Beads and the Diamond Ring caused by the pock-marked surface of the Moon.

READ MORE: https://www.fox4news.com/news/eclipse-phases-bailys-beads-diamond-ring

1:24 p.m.: Colander Shadows

FOX 4 producer Kelly Killian shared her photo of the crescent shadows through her colander.

Here's why it happens:

1:09 p.m.: Totality in Mexico

The solar eclipse has reached totality in Mexico!

1:08 p.m.: Road Closures in Downtown Dallas

Rolling road closures are now starting to get underway in Downtown Dallas.

12:52 p.m.: FOX 4's Lori Brown Interviews Her Kids

This may be the cutest interview of the day. FOX 4's Lori Brown talks to her kids about what they are excited to see during the eclipse.

12:46 p.m.: Solar Eclipse Forecast Update

The bad weather is holding off in North Texas, for now.

Clouds could come back soon.

FOX 4's Ali Turiano takes a look at the forecast.

12:25 p.m.: Solar Eclipse Underway in North Texas

The total solar eclipse is now underway in North Texas!

In Downtown Dallas, FOX 4's Blake Hanson and Dan Henry tried to take a look from the Perot.

12:21 p.m.: Eclipse begins in South Texas

The solar eclipse is now underway in junction Texas. It will happen in North Texas soon!

12:16 p.m.: Solar Eclipse, Texas-style

Linda Silver from the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas shows off her eclipse-themed boots for the big day!

12:11 p.m.: Times to Remember in Dallas

We are about 10 minutes away from the start of the solar eclipse in Dallas.

11:50 a.m.: Clouds starting to scatter

Clouds are beginning to scatter across North Texas.

That could open the door for some good viewing conditions across the area.

Fingers crossed!

11:48 a.m.: Dallas Zoo on how animals react to the eclipse

How will animals react to the solar eclipse?

The Dallas Zoo's Kari Streiber says the animals may react like they do when day turns to night!

11:41 a.m.: Clouds in North Texas

Location, location, location!

A look at the skies across North Texas.

Several areas are seeing clouds, but others have some pretty clear skies.

11:24 a.m.: Crowds Gather in Dallas-Fort Worth

People are starting to make their way outside for a chance to see the total solar eclipse.

Crowds at Klyde Warren Park are starting to grow.

FOX 4's Alex Boyer also spotted people and their telescopes near UT Arlington. 

10:57 a.m.: Central Texas Eclipse Festival Cancels Last Minute

A Texas eclipse festival in Burnet was canceled at the last minute over severe weather concerns.

The event organizers said made the decision to end the festival early because of the chance of tornadoes, large hail and thunderstorms in the forecast.

The announcement was posted around 9 a.m. Monday, just hours before the eclipse is set to begin. 

10:51 a.m.: Fatal Crashes Increased During 2017 Total Solar Eclipse

Officials urge travelers to drive defensively ahead of Monday's total solar eclipse. Many fear a repeat of the 2017 total solar eclipse when fatal car crashes rose by more than 30%.

Scientists looked at National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fatal crash numbers from the day before, the day of and the day after the total eclipse across the U.S. They found 741 people were involved in fatal crashes during those three days. That is a 30% increase compared to similar three-day periods before and after the August 21, 2017 celestial event.

The City of Dallas is closing roads around the time of totality.

Read more on FOX Weather here: https://www.foxweather.com/earth-space/eclipse-caused-30-rise-fatal-crashes-2017

10:46 a.m.: Cloud Cover

Plenty of people are having a similar experience to FOX 4's Sam Gannon. 

She and her family made the trip to Broken Bow, Oklahoma for a chance to see the eclipse, but the clouds are disrupting the view.

 FOX 4's Ali Turiano takes a look at the eclipse forecast and the chance of severe storms later today.

10:22 a.m.: Live Stream in Dallas 

You can watch a close-up live stream of the total solar eclipse over Downtown Dallas.

FOX 4 has full coverage from across North Texas here.

10:19 a.m.: Traffic conditions

FOX 4's Chip Waggoner is live this morning with a look at the traffic conditions.

Chip says the roads are looking clear right now, but afterwards things could get busy.

You can listen to Chip's traffic updates on the FOX 4 news app or follow him on Twitter for updates.

10 a.m.: Total Eclipse Live!

The Good Day crew is done for the day, but our live coverage is not stopping.

Total Eclipse Live will be on TV, our website and on our free streaming app FOX LOCAL through the end of the eclipse around 3 p.m.

9:45 a.m.: Can you take a picture of the eclipse?

One of the most searched questions in Dallas-Fort Worth this morning is can you take a picture of the eclipse?

You can! But there are a few things you should know.

Pointing your camera directly at the sun can be bad for your lens, just like it is bad for your eyes.

Experts suggest putting a solar filter in front of your camera.

For more tips look here:

9:42 a.m.: Eclipse driving tips

Dallas police shared a few safety tips for people driving today. They encourage you to have a full tank of gas and not to stop on highways to watch the moment.

9:36 a.m.: NASA animation shows eclipse totality 

NASA released a neat animation Monday showing exactly how the eclipse will travel across the U.S. Monday. Check it out: 

9:32 a.m.: What to know about pets and solar eclipse

While some abnormal animal behavior has been recorded during eclipses of the past, don’t expect anything unusual from your pets. 

However, there are a few things you can do to make sure they’ll stay safe – including leaving pets inside during the eclipse (but not for any reason that has to do with the sun).

"Though one could take pets outside for an eclipse, they really won’t appreciate the phenomenon, and you probably should not take them if there are going to be many people or crowds present, which could cause fear or anxiety to certain pets," Dr. Jerry Klein, the Chief Veterinarian with the American Kennel Club, told FOX Television Stations.

"The concern is that they may stress and try to escape, so always make sure pets are properly controlled, on leashes," he added. 

9:26 a.m.: UTA Planetarium offers students unique learning experience

UT-Arlington students will get the chance to study the eclipse at one of the three largest planetariums in the state of Texas.

Students have been able to study astronomy in some of the most unique ways with the planetarium.

"My students are really excited and I hope they get to watch it because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not for only students but everybody who is going to be here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area," said Nilakshi Veerabathina, a professor of physics at UTA. "And actually my students are going to work today in teams observing the different aspects of the solar eclipse."

The students will observe things like the temperature change, wind speed, animal behavior and even human behavior.

They will learn about some of the meteorological impacts in regards to the eclipse.

9:00 a.m.: Skydiving for the eclipse

Illinois teacher Tyler Michie, an astronomy teacher, is expected to have a special view of the solar eclipse.

Michie traveled to Dallas for his 600th skydiving jump for the rare event.

He plans to deploy his parachute at 13,000 feet to get almost a full 10 minutes of eclipse time.

8:55 a.m.: Eclipse and the Economy

As millions prepare to see the rare total solar eclipse in different cities across North America, it also brings an added benefit.

LiveNOW from FOX host Jeane Franseen spoke to consumer strategist Lisa Miller about how the eclipse will boost the economy.

8:52 a.m.: Crowds gather at Niagara Falls ahead of solar eclipse

North Texas isn't the only place in the path of totality.

People have started gathering at Niagara Falls in New York ahead of the total solar eclipse on Monday afternoon.

This year's path of totality is 115 miles wide, stretching from southern Texas up through Ohio, then over to northern Maine. 

The next total solar eclipse visible from a large part of North America won't be until 2044.

8:46 a.m.: Eclipse food deals and freebies

Many stores and restaurants have special giveaways surrounding the eclipse.

Sonic has a Blackout Slush Float, Krispy Kreme is selling a special Total Solar Eclipse Doughnut and there are even more.

READ MORE: https://www.fox4news.com/news/solar-eclipse-2024-food-deals-freebies-discounts-april-8

8:37 a.m.: Eclipse-themed foods

No eclipse party is complete without some eclipse-themed foods.

We have a list of everything from Sun Chips to Moon Pies.

7:02 a.m.: Free eclipse watch parties in DFW

It’s not too late to make plans to attend a solar eclipse watch party. There are several free viewing events across North Texas.

The Total Eclipse of the Park is at Addison Circle Park. There will be live music, food trucks, and outdoor activities from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

In Downtown Dallas, at the Ron Kirk Bridge and Felix Lozada Gateway, there will be music and hands-on STEAM activities. The first 3,000 people will get free solar eclipse glasses.

And at the Fort Worth Stockyards, people can gather at Exchange Lawn. The viewing party is from 1 to 3 p.m.

MORE EVENTS: Where to watch the solar eclipse in Dallas

6:39 a.m.: A good sign

A sign in the window of a business in Downtown Waxahachie offers some hope for the weather today. 

It shows a newspaper story from July 29, 1878, when the previous total solar eclipse was seen in North Texas. It says cloudy skies that day parted just in time for the eclipse.

Waxahachie wraps up three days of celebrations for the total eclipse with a watch party in downtown at Rail Yard Park.

6:11 a.m.: Are my eclipse glasses safe?

Even though the sun becomes obscured partially or entirely during an eclipse, what remains visible can cause significant harm to the eyes, potentially leading to permanent vision trouble (blurred vision, dark or yellow spots, pain in bright light, or loss of vision in the center of the eye).

So, in order to protect yourself, use your eclipse glasses, but take a closer look.

A certification stamp with "ISO 12312-2" on the glasses ensures they are properly rated.

READ MORE: https://www.fox4news.com/news/eclipse-safety-glasses-reuse-how-to-check

5:24 a.m.: Scientists travel to North Texas

Scientists from around the world are traveling to Dallas-Fort Worth for a chance to see the total solar eclipse.

The last time North Texas was in the path of totality was in 1878, and it will not happen again for hundreds of years.

Scientists say that the moment will give researchers a chance to study the sun in a way that can't happen at any other time.

Several events will be held to watch the eclipse. 

READ MORE: https://www.fox4news.com/news/2024-eclipse-watch-parties-dallas

5:12 a.m.: Road Closures

In an attempt to avoid any major incidents, the City of Dallas is having rolling closures into downtown from around 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Traffic has been a major concern after cities in the path of the total eclipse in 2017 saw massive backups.

FOX 4's Chip Waggoner will be watching the traffic on our special live coverage of the eclipse from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m.

He will have updates on road conditions throughout the day.

READ MORE: https://www.fox4news.com/news/eclipse-total-solar-eclipse-traffic-texas

5:07 a.m.: Solar Eclipse Forecast 

There are clouds in the forecast for Monday's total solar eclipse, but there's a chance we could see some breaks around eclipse time.

FOX 4's Evan Andrews takes a look at the cloud cover forecast around the eclipse and what parts of the DFW area will have the best view.

Plus, he gives us a look the timing of storms moving into North Texas later in the day.

READ MORE: https://www.fox4news.com/weather/dallas-eclipse-forecast