Rain may wash out some Independence Day celebrations
Thunderstorms due in Washington, D.C.
Mother Nature may dampen Independence Day celebrations on the National Mall, with rain and thunderstorms arriving in Washington, D.C., from a storm that already prompted some Midwestern towns to cancel festivities.
While many Americans will enjoy clear skies for July 4, the nation’s capital is in the path of a slow-moving storm that could bring significant rain Monday. The fireworks display on the National Mall has never before been canceled, but authorities are prepared to move it to Tuesday — July 5 — if safety concerns warrant. The show will begin at 9:09 p.m. ET, regardless of which day it’s held.
The storm already prompted cancellations of parades and fireworks in parts of Indiana. Some towns in southern New York delayed or rescheduled fireworks over concerns rain would wash out the festivities. Forecasters say New York City, Boston and the Northeast should escape the rain on Monday night.
Of more significant concern are flash-flood watches Monday in northern Maryland and northern West Virginia, and flood warnings for parts of Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. The National Weather service said areas of Maryland and Virginia could receive 2-3 inches of rain by Tuesday morning. Flooding in West Virginia last month killed 26 people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes.
“It looks like that area could see some heavy rain. That could be a major issue we see around that area,” said Allan Reppert, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather. “We’re not looking at very good conditions, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some fireworks cancellations due to rains.”
Reppert said the West Coast will generally be clear, although the Seattle area could see a few light showers. He said there’s a potential for rain in parts of the West — including Denver and Salt Lake City — the Great Plains and the South, but nothing significant expected. That forecast generally holds for Texas and Oklahoma, he said, although Florida and Georgia could also see some rain.