In a precautionary measure, the mayor of Niagara Falls has declared a state of emergency in advance of next week’s solar eclipse, which is expected to draw over a million people to the border city.
Falling within the eclipse’s path of totality, National Geographic announced that Niagara Falls was one of the best places to see the celestial phenomenon, where observers can expect total darkness for about three minutes sometime between 2 and 4 p.m. on April 8.
The influx of crowds to Niagara will make it the city’s largest single-day tourist spike ever, which has officials concerned.
The amounts of people have the capabilities to overwhelm traffic, emergency services, and cellphone networks, which lead Mayor Jim Diodati to declare the state of emergency this past weekend.
By doing so, the city would have more tools at its disposal to safeguard the health and safety of residents and visitors, should any situations arise.
Anyone planning to visit is also urged to prepare accordingly, planning for large crowds, increased traffic, and to bring their own eclipse glasses.
Though Toronto does not fall within the path of totality, there are still some great spots in the city to watch the eclipse unfold. Just be sure to pick up some eclipse glasses ahead of time to protect your eyesight!