What to Know
- Fireworks-goers, take heart: Heavy rain is expected to ease off before fireworks displays tonight, though light rain or drizzle will remain.
- So far, the National Park Service says the fireworks on the National Mall will take place as scheduled at 9:09 p.m.
Fireworks shows have been postponed in several Maryland cities because of rain. But so far, officials say the big fireworks display on the National Mall will go on.
The fireworks planned in Frederick, Maryland, have been postponed until July 24, Frederick Police tweeted at about 5 p.m.
College Park, Maryland, have been postponed to Tuesday evening, Mayor Patrick Wojahn said. The show scheduled for Monday in Greenbelt, Maryland, also was rescheduled for Tuesday, the city said on its website. So are the fireworks in Dundalk and Salisbury, Maryland.
The city of Gaithersburg, Maryland, also preemptively canceled their fireworks show. The display was rescheduled for Friday, according to the Twitter account for the city. The fireworks on Solomons Island also were moved to Friday.
The Independence Day parade in Annapolis was cancelled, though the fireworks were still on as of 5 p.m.
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Rain is expected in the D.C. area for much of Independence Day, but a downpour on the National Mall during the fireworks display appears unlikely.
At 8 p.m., the National Park Service said that it still expected to begin the fireworks at 9:09 p.m., though a final decision will be made closer to the time of the show.
If you are headed out to see fireworks tonight, you may get rained on -- or at least drizzled on -- but the rain is not expected to be heavy when the fireworks are booming at about 9 p.m., said Storm Team4 Meteorologist Lauryn Ricketts. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 70s, and it will be humid, even foggy.
The damp forecast has the National Park Service watching the skies closely.
"Low visibility, high winds, heavy rain, thunder and lightning, obviously -- if any of those things contribute and would mar the performance or put the safety of our employees or our visitors in danger, then we'd look at postponing or delaying the start of the show," National Parks Service spokesman Mike Litterst said.
The display has not been postponed in 25 years.
The White House canceled its annual Fourth of July picnic and fireworks watch because of the weather.
Scheduled performances by rapper Kendrick Lamar and singer-songwriter Janelle Monae will go on indoors. The artists will perform in the White House East Room for an audience of military families, administration staff, and supporters and guests of President Barack Obama and his family.
It's the second consecutive year that rain has led Obama and his wife, Michelle, to cancel its annual Fourth of July barbecue for military members and their families.
The Smithsonian's Folk Life Festival closed down outdoor activities at 2:45 p.m. Monday, though activities will continue until 5:30 p.m. in the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building at 900 Jefferson Ave. SW. Click here for an updated schedule.
