NYC, Philly, DC, Boston: Cooperative Skies for Major Firework Shows

By Samantha-Rae Tuthill, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

July 3,2013; 7:59PM,EDT

 

 

 

After days of soaking rainfall, with some places receiving more than 300 percent of monthly averages, outdoor celebrations in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., will fair well for July Fourth.

Heat and humidity will be the biggest concerns for major cities on the East Coast. Boston will have highs in the low 90s, but with 65 to 75 percent humidity, sun intensity and other contributing factors, the AccuWeather RealFeel® temperature will push to 101. These conditions will make hydration and heat protection especially important while spending time in the sun for barbecues and parades. The weather will stay warm and humid for the start of the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular at 9:30 p.m.
Likewise, New York City can expect to have an afternoon high temperature of 87, with overnight lows dropping into the 70s. The chance for a passing thunderstorm may temporarily dampen some outdoor activities for the evening, but it will not reach the drenching level of storms that have started the week. Conditions for the 10:30 a.m. reopening of the Statue of Liberty should be clear. The Macy's Fourth of July fireworks display, the largest in the country, will begin along the Hudson River around 9:25 p.m. when temperatures will have lowered to about 80, but it will still feel closer to 85.
Spotty thunderstorms may also threaten some afternoon or evening events in the nation's capitol, but any rain should be fleeting. The day will be hot and sunny with temperatures hitting 90. Humidity will be a factor, reaching 71 percent in the evening for the fireworks show over the National Mall. According to AccuWeather Expert Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the Fourth of July celebration at the National Archives will coincide with the hottest part of the day. Temperatures will have dropped to the 80s for the start of the fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
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Philadelphia, where the June 1 to July 2 rainfall total was 295 percent above average, risks only occasional rain or thunderstorms for Independence Day. The high for the day will be 89 degrees, but it will feel more like 95. The concert at Benjamin Franklin Parkway will begin at 7 p.m., with the fireworks estimated to start at 10:30 p.m. Temperatures will have dropped only a few degrees into the lower 80s while humidity levels will remain in the high 70s to low 80s.
AccuWeather Expert Meteorologist Paul Walker says that while some areas will have a chance of rain at times in the afternoon, most of the day will be rain-free.
The most important safety considerations for the day will be for heat and lightning. When attending daytime events while cloud cover is minimal, sunscreen will be crucial for avoiding painful sunburns. Drinking plenty of water and temporarily retreating to the shade or indoors will help combat the risks for heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If a thunderstorm does move into an area, the only way to stay safe from lightning risks will be to head indoors to an enclosed, walled building.