California
What to expect for the 2024 total solar eclipse in Southern California
On April 8, millions of Americans will get to see a rare celestial sight — a total solar eclipse crossing over parts of the United States from Texas to Maine.
The moon will pass between the sun and the Earth, but only those in locations where the moon’s shadow completely covers the sun – called the path of totality – will experience the full eclipse. For seconds to minutes, the sky will darken, temperatures drop and wildlife will react to the sudden changes.
While Southern California won’t be in the direct path, the Golden State still has the chance to see a show and witness what experts call an extraordinary phenomenon.
Here’s what to expect.
Can I see the solar eclipse in California?
The first contact in Southern California is expected just after 10 a.m., said Vanessa Alarcon, an astronomical observer at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. She cautioned to wear protective glasses to look directly at the eclipse. People also could project the image of the sun onto another surface using a handmade device or even a kitchen tool.
The peak of eclipse is expected to happen here at 11:12 a.m., Alarcon said. That’s when Southern Californians could see roughly half of the sun blocked by the moon.
What will the solar eclipse look like in Southern California?
A lot may depend on the weather. At first contact, people may notice what appears to be a slice missing from the sun. Around an hour later, the sky likely will get darker as nearly 50% of the sun is blocked.
“You will notice shadows get a little bit weird. They maybe don’t look as crisp,” Alarcon said.
How long will the solar eclipse last?
The entire phenomenon likely could last a couple of hours, she said. After 11:12 a.m., the moon will start to move away from the sun. The eclipse is expected to end by 12:22 p.m.
Is the solar eclipse safe to look at?
The short answer: Not without protective glasses.
NASA officials say it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection. Also, viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter will instantly cause severe eye injury, the agency said.
Regular sunglasses let in too much light and won’t work. But people can find ISO-approved solar eclipse glasses at a variety of shops. NASA officials recommend testing them before April 8.
People also can use a pinhole projector to project the sun onto a nearby surface. It can be as simple as punching a pinhole in an index card or using a kitchen colander. With the sun behind you, let the light stream through the tiny hole to see the projected image on another surface.
How often does a solar eclipse happen?
April 8 is the last chance to witness a total eclipse in the continental United States until 2044. While Californians will not be in the path of the total eclipse, they can watch it online. NASA plans to show a live broadcast at nasa.gov/nasatv/ and on its YouTube channel at youtube.com/@NASA.
Have a question about the solar eclipse in Southern California? Email cheri.carlson@vcstar.com and we will try to find the answer.
USA TODAY contributed to this report. Cheri Carlson covers the environment for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.
California
California Now Offers Free Passes to State Historic Parks (Just Don’t Miss the Deadline) | KQED
An annual pass that’s usually $50 is free in honor of Juneteenth — and to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Historical buildings are visible at Sonoma State Historic Park, Sonoma, California, May 31, 2026. Until July 6, Californians can download the state historic park pass for free and use it as many times as they want through the end of 2026. (Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images)
“California doesn’t hide from hard truths and uncomfortable history – in fact, we embrace it and learn from it,” Newsom wrote.
Until July 6, Californians can download the state historic park pass for free and use it as many times as they want through the end of 2026. The pass gives free entry to state historic parks for up to four people.
Jump to:
The Historian Passport grants entry to more than 30 state historic parks, including parks like Olompali and Malakoff Diggins which, rather than just providing outdoor recreation, also have an educational emphasis on the state’s history.
Many of these parks tell the story of the state’s cultural or indigenous history, from missions and museums to temples and the site that sparked the California Gold Rush.
Newsom made a similar move to make state parks free for Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year, in response to Trump’s decision to eliminate the holiday from the list of fee-free days at national parks across the country, replacing it with his birthday on Flag Day.
How to get your free Historian Passport for up to four people
You must make an account with the state’s reservation site ReserveCalifornia.com to obtain a Historian Pass. Then, visit the site’s Advance Passes page and select “Special Edition Historian Passport” from the dropdown menu, which will show as costing $0. No payment information is required.
After checking out, you’ll receive an email with an attached PDF version of your Historian Passport.
The state recommends you print off this PDF to present at any California state historic park for free entry, although you may just be able to show the image on your phone too.
Bear in mind that cellphone service may be poor at many state historic parks, so it’s worth screenshotting the PDF to save it as an image on your phone in case you’re unable to search your email.
Looking for free entry to other state parks that aren’t included in the Historian Passport? Consider checking out a parks pass from your local library, which provides these passes as part of the California State Library Parks Pass program.
Northern California State Historic Parks to visit for free this year with a Historian Passport
Bay Area
Sacramento area
Sierra foothills
KQED’s Carly Severn contributed to this report.
A 33-year-old Northern California man was sentenced to three years in prison after he was found passed out drunk behind the wheel in the drive-thru of an In-N-Out Burger, marking his seventh arrest and conviction for driving under the influence.
According to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, California Highway Patrol officers were alerted to the June 2025 situation by a store employee.
Responding officers approached the vehicle and reported smelling urine and vomit, along with the odor of alcohol inside the car, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Officers arrested the man, identified as Carlos Alvarez of Salinas, on suspicion of felony DUI.
This was his fourth DUI conviction in the past 10 years, The Times reported.
It was not immediately clear what sentences were imposed in Alvarez’s prior DUI convictions or whether he has previously served jail time for any of the other felony convictions.
Two college students died after being swept out to sea from a Santa Cruz beach as massive waves and dangerous rip currents inundated the California coastline in recent days.
Authorities confirmed this week that Harshita Nair, 21, and Mahial Sran, 20, were killed after the sudden swell at a Santa Cruz beach last Wednesday. Nair died last week while Sran died in a local hospital on Sunday.
The incident came a day after a five-year-old girl in southern California was killed when turbulent waters swept the child, who was walking with her mother and brother, out to sea from the shore of Treasure Island Beach in Orange county.
Authorities have urged people to take precautions while visiting beaches throughout the state as the coast faced treacherous conditions with the continuing king tides, a non-scientific term describing the highest tides of the year.
On 10 June, local authorities in Santa Cruz responded to a beach for an ocean rescue of two women who had been pulled into the water. A team of about eight rescue swimmers helped pull Nair and Sran from the water, and they were taken to local hospitals by ambulance and helicopters.
It was the fifth rescue firefighters had undertaken on that mile-long portion of coastline from Yellow Bank Beach to Bonny Doon Beach, the San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit of Cal Fire said in a statement online.
Kyle Breton, a Santa Cruz county volunteer fire captain, said in a video that officials believed the two friends were napping near a rock archway between two beaches when the water came in and swept them out.
Sran was a student at San Jose State University and Nair attended the University of California, Berkeley, the universities confirmed to media outlets.
In an obituary, Nair’s family remembered her as a “cherished sister, granddaughter and a treasured friend” who “always found a way to lift others up”.
“Harshita was truly full of life – radiating energy, warmth and joy wherever she went. She had a deep love for adventure and embraced every moment with enthusiasm and courage. Her spirit was contagious, her laughter uplifting and her presence comforting.”
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