Checklist: How to prepare for the solar eclipse in Central Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A total eclipse will bathe a swath of Texas in darkness for anywhere from under a minute to more than four minutes in the middle of the day. A number of large cities in Central Texas — Austin included — are in this path of totality. Here's everything you need to know to prepare for eclipse day.

Decide where you'll be

In many cases, you won't have to go far to see totality. But the further toward the center you are, the longer you'll experience it. For example, Del Valle will only experience a partial eclipse. But head north to Austin, and the duration of totality stretches to 1 minute, 40 seconds. Head farther north to Georgetown and it's more than 3 minutes.

Check out our totality map to see how long it will be where you are.

Additionally, some places will experience the "double diamond ring" effect. You'll be able to see a single "diamond ring," also known as Baily's Beads, caused by the uneven surface of the moon as it enters and leaves totality. But in some areas, the sun shines through in two different spots. You can see where those are in our story about the double diamond ring phenomenon.

You can also look at our roundup of events taking place in Central Texas.

If you do decide to just go outside briefly where you are, pay attention in the days leading up to it to where the sun is in the sky at the time the eclipse is supposed to happen. You want to be sure to find a vantage point that isn't blocked by buildings or trees.

Figure out timing

You can use the same eclipse map to look at when the moon will first start to cover the sun, when totality will happen, and when the sun will be uncovered again.

Use that to plan out when to go outside. If you do decide to travel, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get there, and back. Texas Department of Transportation officials said they expect congestion on major highways and signs in Austin are already warning drivers not to pull over on the side of highways during the eclipse. You can read our guide to which roads are expected to be the most gridlocked in Central Texas.

Get your supplies

If you're traveling, consider bringing supplies (food, lawn chairs, extra batteries or chargers, sunscreen, first aid kit and anything else you'd need) with you. Many cities in the path of totality are expected to balloon in size on that day, so it's better to be prepared in case you get stuck in traffic, especially on the way home. One Hays County official also advises people "pack your patience."

People staying put are also encouraged to avoid unnecessary trips and to get groceries and gas in the days leading up to the eclipse.

And while three carriers told KXAN they don't expect a significant impact to cell service, keep in mind some areas in Texas don't have great coverage in the first place. Make sure you have a printed map or are very familiar with where you're going.

Of course, you also need a way to safely view the eclipse. If you want to look directly at the sun, get solar eclipse glasses — and check our story on how to make sure they're legitimate.

You will also be able to see the effects of the eclipse through shadows filtering through tree leaves — they'll appear like crescents as totality gets closer. You can also make your own viewer.

If you want to take photos, you'll want to invest in a solar filter to protect both your eyes and your camera (or phone's) sensor. Check out these photography tips for more details.

Keep on top of what happens that day

We'll cover the eclipse and its effects in newscasts on KXAN and on KXAN.com. When totality hits in our area, we will air NBC News' special reporting on the eclipse.

You can also expect live streams on kxan.com and the KXAN News app. Get alerts about when they begin by downloading the KXAN News app or signing up for our desktop notifications through the footer on kxan.com.

You can also check the weather using the KXAN Weather App, which will feature eclipse forecasts.

Christopher Adams, Eric Henrikson, Kelsey Thompson, Sam Stark and Taylor Girtman contributed to this report.