San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country are gearing up for a celestial spectacle as they prepare to fall under the shadow of a total solar eclipse this Monday, an event sure to draw massive crowds for a phenomenon not set to return to the contiguous United States until 2044, as the San Antonio Express-News reports.

The eclipse's path of totality, a 115-mile-wide region where viewers can experience the full effect, covers parts of the Hill Country, places like Fredericksburg and Kerrville are expected to see a significant influx of tourists seeking the complete blackout set to begin after 1:30 p.m., lasting up to an enthralling 4 ½ minutes although cloud cover threatens to dampen the experience with concerns of compromised visibility due to potential heavy cloud cover and rain forecasted for the area.

In response to the excitement, and the risks posed by staring directly at the sun, local stores and organizations such as H-E-B, QuikTrip, and America’s Best Contacts and Glasses have stocked up on eclipse glasses meeting the ISO 12312-2 international standard for safe viewing, with availability still expected despite high demand, according to Express-News.

Meanwhile, KSAT has announced comprehensive coverage of the event, including a live feed of the eclipse starting at noon and extensive preparatory content provided by their Weather Authority team, which recently held a live stream Q&A detailing the science behind the eclipse and optimal viewing strategies they're also inviting viewers to share their eclipse photos and videos, though cautioning the use of proper safety measures to avoid eye and camera damage, as noted on their official website.