They had been talking about the eclipse for months. We have been waiting for this for a long time. Its amazing. Ive been typing it up and looking all about it and im like oh, my god its so cool like im like wow mom like i cant believe were seeing this. Reporter everybody was like that, wow mom, i cant believe im seeing this. This is the lark ken family. They came from pottstown to see the eclipse and experience all of this here at the Franklin Institute. Why did you make the trip . Why did you need to be here. Well, we thought this would be a super fun place to see where real live science goes down. Whats happening in the sky behind us and this is science. What is science. Science is amazing. Reporter what was it cool to be here with so many others. It was really fun. Ive never seen anything like this. I love science. Reporter so cool. Reporter does this enhance your love of science more. It was really fun. Reporter will you tell your friends at school about it. It was really fun. It was really cool how they line up and stuff. Reporter it was cool. Memories for everybody here at the Franklin Institute today. Reporting live in center city, im Sarah Bloomquist channel6 action news. Back to you. All right sarah thank you so much. Science is cool. What a great sentence. They set up a viewing area on wilmington. Nasa space ambassador and Wilmington University carry blanche the professor there was on hand to lead a questionandanswer session. In south jersey, people gathered on the campus of Rowan University to watch the eclipse. Chopper6 hd was over the campus in glassboro where they handed out glasses to everyone who gathered there outside the University Science building and planetarium. In our area we had about 80 percent of viewing of this total Solar Eclipse but we really needed the weather to cooperate to make that happen. It did for the most part. Meteorologist cecily tynan live outside this afternoon. Cecily i would say we did pretty well. For the most part. We did have intermittent clouds and the marine influence did bring at more clouds on shore than inland. In philadelphia we would have a cloud that would cover it and then it would move on and you could see it. I want to show you this satellite imagery. This is visible satellite. It depends on the sun so if you look, this is noon. As i put this in motion, look at the west coast towards the east, and you can actually see, see how theres a void in those clouds and that is the shadow of the moon as it was crossing from the west coast to the east coast and the United States, the only country, the north america area the only land mailings in the path of totality so this was our eclipse and it was pretty interesting to watch it here even though we just had partial. The last total eclipse for philadelphia was way back in 1478. The next one wont be until 2079 my kids are excited about that one but this is a drought of 601 years. The average for a total eclipse anyplace on the planet is 375 years. We have to wait 601 years between total eclipses. Lets talk about whats happening in the moment now. Double scan live showing that we are seeing some showers and thunderstorms beginning to break out to the west, a few of those will be sneaking through overnight with a warm front and what this warm front will bring us is oppressive heat and humidity. We have a heat advisory posted tomorrow for the urbanized areas along i95. This is where the heat index, the combination of the heat and humidity will be climbing up around 100 degrees. So, its dangerous for a lot of people, uncomfortable for most but the heat and humidity will not last very long. Ill talk about that and talk about the storms on the way coming up in the full accuweather forecast. Back to you. Cecily, thank you. Well the town of saint joseph missouri was one of many in the path of totality for the Solar Eclipse. Thats where we sent meteorologist adam joseph to get one of the best views. He got to see the big event just after 2 oclock our time, 1 oclock there with the time difference. Adam joins us live to tell us about that up close and personal experience. Hey, adam. Reporter you know, my heart is still beating the moment that totality hit. Number one, because of totality and number two what youre seeing weatherwise right now is extremely deceiving because leading up to the eclipse, it was storming, it was cloudy. We were like were not going to be able to see this at all but you know what, everything came in line perfectly to get a little bit of a glimpse of it and derek pitts come over here hes from the Franklin Institute, hes the chief astronomer over there. It was 20,000 people here, packed for days, most of them left because that thunderstorm came in right before totality and they said were calling it a day it isnt going to happen. Right. Reporter then in that two minute 38 second minute we had of totality there it came. Had to be the most dramatic astronomical experience ive had 18th of other Solar Eclipses like this because it was raining 10, 15 minutes before we got this great break in the crowds and they justin enough we could see the last 10 percent of the sun as it was being covered by the moon and then that beautiful opening that let us see totality just for those few seconds. We could see the corona, we could see prominences and you could hear the yelps and cheers. Reporter cheers and goose bumps and tears in peoples eyes. Did you expect it to be that dark. It was pitch black here. I did expect it to be really dark. The cloud cover helped to make it even darker so that added to the drama and really felt like something momentous was happening. Reporter and you saw one totality in the black sea prior to this. But this is your how many attempts did you try to witness totality across the world. This is my fifth attempt and three clouded out. The one in the black sea was totally clear and this one ranks as the moment dramatic ive ever seen. Reporter it was unbelievable to experience, you know, that moment that everyone came to from across the world here in this one field. In this one spot sure because everybody recognized that this is the place where well get the greatest amount of duration of time, nearly the greatest duration of time. We all expected we would have a really great experience but the clouds and weather added to the drama. It gave it a sense of three dimension with the clouds in between. Reporter derek im so glad we made the 1400mile journey with you across the country. Back at home we have john rawlins in cape may new jersey which was another place to have a beautiful shot of 80 percent of that moon blocking the sun back at home. Reporter indeed it was. This was definitely not just another day at the beach here for the folks in cape may. Now most of them obviously came down to enjoy the sun. This is august in cape may but as a bonus they got to watch the sun today. This day at the beach started hot, sunny and clear. Many in cape may looking for those hard to find eclipse glasses. Luckily, chris bakely a local astro photographer brought 200 glasses with his own money to give away. We are ready for this. Thanks chris for making this happen. Reporter he also set up a camera with a 1600millimeter lens so those without the glasses could share the view. Also you know, they always say on tv that one person can change the world. Now i may not be changing the world today but i will have helped as many people as possible see this eclipse. Reporter out on the beach we didnt find anyone who came here expressly for the eclipse. But many said they were ready to gaze upwards. The first hint of heavenly changes came at about 1 20. I feel like the moon coming into in front of the sun like its almost incredible. Reporter just starting isnt it. Yeah, just started. Reporter the maximum shadow was 2 46. It was hard to tell if the darkening was because of the lunar shadow or gathering cloud cover that at times obscured the sun. Whichever the case those who did kept gazing upwards felt rewarded. We thought about going down to South Carolina for the total eclipse. This is just as cool. Partial eclipse is really amazing. I made a pin hole camera but im really glad i got these glasses. Reporter quite a show overhead here in cape may. The only distraction i think was probably that cloud cover which seemed to appear just key times during some of the critical minutes but i think overall everybody enjoyed the show. Live in cape may, john rawlins channel6 action news. John we enjoyed it here too right outside the 6abc studios and you have been sharing your eclipse memories with us today. Lets start with these pretty incredible pictures taken by a viewer named daniel john. He shared them with us on twitter using the 6abcaction so he got these shots above the skies in norristown, pennsylvania. I asked him how, was this an iphone. He says i took a picture every 25 seconds with a cannon camera on a tripod, a neutral density filter made specifically for eclipses. Needless to stay he was ready to get these shots and pretty professional looking stuff here. More magnificent pictures from bear delaware, niah snapping the scene from right outside her home there. Really great stuff. You saw people making their own viewers if you couldnt find those glasses mom nia took this picture of her daughter thalia their homemade viewer. Looks like shes got two working there. They are ready to go. Brittany sims, and i asked her did this work and she said, yes she said she went with the nine stacked sunglasses approach. I cant imagine it was very comfortable but, you know, when you cant find those glasses they were in high demand, you got creative and finally, celeste tells us rookie was also ready for the big eclipse day with total eclipse cereal. His little viewer there, sun chips and the sunglasses. Even the four legged friends getting in on the action but with eye protection of course. Of course. That is a must, a priority. All right alicia. You can relive the Great American eclipse any time on our web site at 6abc. Com eclipse. There you can watch video of our Action News Team all across the country as well as see photos on prepare for the next eclipse which is coming up in 2024. All right. Start the countdown clock. Start it. It is time for a first check on the traffic. Ill start looking for another pair of glasses right now. Good afternoon brian and sharrie. Looks like the need to drive eclipsed the desire to watch the eclipse for a lot of people. Were still seeing a bunch of people on the roads on this monday afternoon. Schuylkill expressway eastbound backing up from girard through this point approaching Spring Garden into south street. We had a broken down vehicle that was blocking a lane for a time. They just got it pushed out of the way. Extra slow on the eastbound side of the schuylkill with speeds like 11 Miles Per Hour. Then farther along as you head eastbound youre seeing a jam on the walt whitman bridge from the upside onto into southbound. Theres a crash southbound at 295 that also just got pushed off to the side. And lets check this situation. You guessed it. Its an opening at the taconypalmyra bridge. Bridge is back down t now we set our sights on the burlington bristol bridge. Start heading for that turnpike connector. Winslow township investigating a motorcycle crash blocking the white horse pike this afternoon. Old white horse pike gets you around it. Lets grab the ipad check your ways home with the waze app. 295 northbound in bellmawr reports of a crash north of 42 so jammed there as well as you come off of the northsouth freeway. Well check it again brian and sharrie in the next half hour. Thanks my friend. Thank you. More action news coming up right after this. Health, is having the freedom to do what you want to do with your life, every single day. So at aetna, we promise to keep finding new ways to join you so nothing gets in your way. Because no matter where it is youre going or whatever stage of life youre in. We believe that when it comes to health. You dont join us. We join you. Today, we spend a whole lot of time like this. So at citizens bank, weve created banking tools that fit how youre living today. From advanced atms. To online banking. To our Award Winning mobile app. And if you prefer facetoface we have that too. Ask me, terry goggans, how our balance of technology and people can help you. The controversy over the statue of former philadelphia mayor frank rizzo continues tonight with supporters meeting with the mayor and opponents planning to protest. Action News Reporter bob brooks live now at city hall for the latest on this back and forth. Bob. Reporter hey, sharrie the good news is this protest is sort of happening right now with these people who want the statue to come down has stayed peaceful. Theres behind me a few hundred people in the crowd right now and again it has remained peaceful. Kudos to the Philadelphia Police department in doing such a good job in planning for this to happen. While groups gathered to watch the eclipse some members of the Philadelphia Police department didnt have that luxury. They were busy blocking off the frank rizzo statue. It was around 2 oclock when officers began to section it off with steel fencing. Police tell us theyre expecting the crowd of antistatue protesters to grow beyond 300. Today we caught up with mayor jim kenney. He says right now hes listening to all sides but at this point no decision on whether to take the statue down keep it or move it to a different location has been made. I dont know at this moment what the right thing is to do for everybody and it wont be the lightning for everybody in the end. Reporter though he himself is not a fan of it. There are no statues of mayors. If you look back at some of our history Richardson Dillworth great mayor jim tate the fires first Irish American mayor. Reporter there was a closed door meeting with those who want to keep the statue. The reason for that safety. Now today mayor kenney said a decision on the statue is going to come soon. He says the greater chance there is for violence breaking out here. All day we spoke with philadelphians wondering whats going to happen. One young man told me he would like to see it go. In his opinion he doesnt represent philadelphia now. I think the statue should be removed at some point because i feel as though weve made progression away from some of the actions that mayor rizzo made in the past. Reporter one woman we spoke with says she watched rizzo throughout his career and thinks the city has bigger issues than a statue. Hes a party of our history. Hes a part of the history of philadelphia. Reporter you think the statue should. I think the statue should stay where it is to be perfectly honest. Reporter you have to applaud both sides both for the statues those against it especially the Philadelphia Police department because at this point we know the protests like this can sometimes get violent. Today thats not the case. Reporting live in center city, bob brooks channel6 action news. Brian. Well keep our eyes on that bob. Thank you. In spain Police Confirmed that the fugitive barcelona van attack suspect has been shot dead in a small town outside the city. The man was wearing an explosive belt when he was shot. The suspect had been the focus of an intense manhunt after Authorities Say he used a have a and to mow down pedestrians in barcelonas famous las ramblas promenade on thursday. 13 people were killed more than 120 others injured. A search and rescue mission is under way at this hour for 10 missing u. S. Soldiers after the u. S. S. John s. Mccain collided with a 600foot oil tanker. Others were injured in this collision which happened near singapore in the south china sea. The u. S. Navy is now investigating. This is the second time a u. S. Naval destroyer crashed with another vessel in the pacific in the past two months. This latest collision happened in a busy shipping lane. The ship was so badly damaged there is a gaping hole in the hull water pouring from the wrecked destroyer. The crews sleeping quarters are among the compartments just completely flooded. Four sailors were airlifted to a singapore hospital but its those 10 missing sailors that are the greatest current concern. The u. S. John mccain bears the name of john mccains father and grandfather. The senator tweeted cindy and i are keeping the sailors in our prayer and President Donald Trump weighing in as well. Thoughts and prayers are with the u. S. Navy sailors aboard the u. S. S. John s. Mccain. Again a search and rescue operation is very much under way at this hour for those 10 missing sailors and an investigation is ramping up as well. Brian and sharrie. Alicia, thank you. All eyes of course have been to the skies today as we took in that incredible and beautiful Solar Eclipse. Yeah. Not too long ago. It was really fun because most of the station wall outside. Yeah. And the clouds would come and even with the glasses, i have a splitting headache right now. From staring up. From staring up and i took breaks and everything and we have seven years before we get to do this all over again. Cant wait. Lets head over to the Action News Weather Center and i love this shot. Bob watts action news editor and hes also a great still photographer took this with a special lens right outside the station. What i like about out is you can see the Solar Eclipse close to maximum here in philadelphia and also you can see how it did have to battle with some clouds. Intermittent clouds through the afternoon and actually the clouds will be thickening a little bit tonight. Could get a spotty shower or thunderstorm as much warmer air moves in. So the accuweather highlights show you summer heat returns tomorrow. Heat and humidity. If you dont like it, though you dont have to wait long. Big changes by the middle of the week. Its actually going to feel like fall by the end of the week and the weekend and yes in seven years, we have our next eclipse so i like this map because it shows you all of the Solar Eclipses in the 21st century. This is the path of the eclipse that happened today. This is april 8th 2024. Its a lot clos