The Texas Total Eclipse Festival in Burnet has been cut short, succumbing to the impending threat of severe weather that includes the likes of hail, high winds, and possible tornadoes. The organizers, prioritizing safety and with support from Burnet County officials and local agencies, decided to pull the plug on the event scheduled to last through Tuesday, according to KXAN.

Though Burnet appeared to be in the clear on Monday with expectations of dry weather, per KXAN Meteorologist Rich Segal, the forecast suggested that rain could set in as early as 3 to 5 a.m. Tuesday, potentially giving way to stormy conditions later in the day. This came as a blow to what had been an eager congregation of at least 30,000 attendees at the festival who must now quickly pack and depart.

For those who ventured to the area hoping to catch the celestial rarity, there was a brief window to witness the partial eclipse at 12:17 p.m. and the total eclipse at 1:34 p.m., before being advised to make their safe withdrawal post-haste. The Burnet County Sheriff's Office anticipated a surge of traffic from the early departures and urged residents to exercise patience and refrain from unnecessary travel.

Despite the festival's premature conclusion, the organizers have assured that a partial refund policy will be communicated to the attendees via email, as noted by KXAN. Shuttle services were quickly organized to assist with the efficient clearing of the venue, while inbound shuttle services were canceled outright. Meanwhile, no further admissions to the event were to be granted.

Those wishing to still catch the eclipse were given the chance to remain at the campgrounds until totality passed, after which they were encouraged to leave. The cancellation also unraveled plans for Monday's activities, which included a ceremony, meditation, and music sets. Central Texas skies were expected to remain dry during the eclipse, despite the severe weather risk taking shape later in the day, as reported by KVUE.