Warning for Louisiana – Eclipse Could Disrupt Mobile Phones

There are many people in Louisiana and the surrounding states of Texas and Arkansas especially that are looking forward to the celestial sky show that will take place on April 8th. You're probably more than aware that a solar eclipse is forecast to cast a large portion of the Gulf South into the shadow of the moon as it passes between the Sun and the Earth.

It will certainly be something to see. That's why hundreds of thousands of people have already made plans to be "in the dark" during the day on April 8th. And while the sight of an eclipse is a once in a lifetime kind of event, there are concerns that these celestial actions could have an effect on our modern way of life.

The issue with cell phones or mobile phones and their service during the eclipse is two-fold. The first issue is an interruption by the sun's electromagnetic radiation as it interacts with the Earth's ionosphere. Previous eclipses have shown that cell service can become sketchy during the height of an eclipse but the interruption in service only usually lasts as long as the eclipse lasts.

There is a Bigger Threat to Cell Phone Service on April 8th

That threat will be based squarely on your physical location at the time of the eclipse. If you're in many cities in Louisiana where the moon's shadow will not cover the sun completely you should be okay. But as you move into Texas and Arkansas where the shadow will be darker there is something that you will encounter that your cell phone will not like.

That threat is all of those other people wanting to use their cell phones at the same you're wanting to use yours. Since many people will view the eclipse in a rural area away from city obstructions the cell service may not be that strong to begin with. Throw in a couple hundred thousand non-local users and your cell phone might just turn into a digital camera during the peak of the darkness.

Will Using a Cell Phone During the Eclipse Cause Damage to the Device?

Probably not. Unless you drop your phone in some liquid because you couldn't see because it was dark. Again interference from the actual eclipse should be minimal and there is no threat to your electronics from the sun's rays or the moon's shadow.

The fact that you can't or won't be able to get cell service because of the throngs of people, well the only fix for that is to go where the people are not or wait until they leave. I for one, am glad the eclipse is happening somewhere else. I have seen how Louisiana people drive in the dark. I can only imagine how they would drive if it was dark and they were looking up at the sun trying to take a picture.

Oh, and don't take your cell phone to these cities, someone might steal it in the dark.