Precautions Urged During Solar Eclipse

Yakima residents are encouraged to use caution next Monday, August 21st when a solar eclipse will be visible throughout the area. Pacific Northwest locations that will experience a total solar eclipse, with the sun 100% obscured, include Salem and Baker County in Oregon.

Although Yakima is not in the direct path of a total solar eclipse, during which the moon completely covers the sun, 95% of the sun’s surface will be obscured in Yakima.

“It’s going to get dark,” said Yakima Fire Department Captain Jeff Pfaff. “It’ll be like the sun setting. The street lights will come on.”

The eclipse will begin at 9:09 am on Monday, August 21st according to NASA officials. The sky will be at its darkest over Yakima at 10:22 am. The eclipse should end at 11:41 am, more than two-and-a-half hours after it begins.

To avoid eye damage, NASA officials said the event should only be viewed directly through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar filters compliant with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standards.

“There are many things to consider before looking at the sun,” Pfaff said. “Remember when your grandparents told you, ‘Never look at the sun, it will blind you?’ They were right.”

He said the public also needs to take other precautions. “Make sure you don’t stop traffic to watch it,” Pfaff said. “Find a safe, open space to watch it.”

There could be impacts on animals and pets who are outside, Pfaff said. “They may react differently as the sky grows darker,” he said. “They may look for food or a place to sleep. Just be prepared.”

NASA will provide livestream coverage of the total solar eclipse, the region’s first in nearly 40 years, at https://www.nasa.gov/eclipselive

Precautions Urged During Solar Eclipse – News Release