Will a gloomy weather forecast scare away eclipse watchers in the Hill Country?
Businesses in the Texas Hill Country prepare for potentially record-breaking crowds for the total solar eclipse, despite uncertain weather forecasts. The weather forecast is changing for eclipse watchers in Austin and the Hill Country, raising the question about how many visitors will be deterred by the possibility of clouds blocking their views of the once-in-a-lifetime event. Nancy Woodward, co-owner of the Johnson City Coffee Company, has been told to prepare for 50,000 visitors and predicts that Fredericksburg, 30 miles west, estimates 100,000 people will crowd into town by Monday. Despite the weather conditions, businesses in Johnson City, Fredericksurg and Kerrville have been prepared for a tidal wave of tourism. At one point, a horse trailer has been filled with supplies needed to manage 150,000 tourists.
Publicados : um mês atrás por http://www.facebook.com/cbsaustin, Bettie Cross no Weather
The latest weather forecast is throwing a curve ball at eclipse watchers in Austin and the Hill Country. The complicated outlook for clouds and rain keeps changing and that will continue into the weekend. The question now is how many visitors will be scared off by the chance clouds will block their views of a once-in-a-lifetime event.
“It is really hard to know what to expect,” said Nancy Woodward, co-owner of the Johnson City Coffee Company.
The popular coffee shop is nestled under giant oaks just off Highway 290. It is a prime spot to sip a latte and keep an eye on the surge of visitors coming to see the moon completely block out the sun for four minutes.
“It is possible, I don’t know, that at some point on Monday Highway 290, in front of us, will just be a parking lot and no one will move,” said Woodward.
Woodward says Johnson City has been told to prepare for 50,000 visitors. Fredericksburg is 30 miles west and estimates 100,000 people will crowd into town by Monday.
“I’ve heard people from small towns in other parts of the country talk about what happened when they had total solar eclipses and it is actually kind of terrifying, like we could be overrun by mobs,” said Woodward.
Cheri Mayfield is making sure that no matter how big the crowds everyone can stay caffeinated. “We are stickering, stickering, stickering, so many cups,” said Mayfield.
The employee at the Johnson City Coffee Company chitchats with customers all day and says so far no one has mentioned being scared off by Monday’s gloomy weather forecast. “Even though we have a forecast for a little bit of rain and clouds, I think people are still excited and they’re gung-ho to come and see what they can see,” said Mayfield.
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Regardless of the weather, businesses in Johnson City, Fredericksburg and Kerrville say they must be ready for what could be a tidal wave of tourism. At the Johnson City Coffee Company, a horse trailer has been filled with all the supplies needed to manage 150,000 visitors rolling in on Highway 290.
“I think it will be the busiest day, ever. I do, yes. I am certainly stocked and staffed for the busiest day ever,” said Woodward. “We have spent a lot of time preparing, stocking up at a level that is insane. We have never bought so much product. So, I do hope they come.”
The business owner says it is a positive sign that her three rental properties are still fully booked.
“Nobody has canceled on my bnbs, no,” said Woodward.
Woodward had t-shirts printed that say Johnson City and her coffee shop are the places where "darkness meets delight". She thinks if anyone decides that may not be the case, it will be day-trippers who are watching the hour-by-hour forecast.
“Maybe on the day of, the people that were going to drive from Austin for the day will not show up. I do not think we will miss them at this point. I think we have gotten all the business coming that we can handle,” laughed Woodward.