Indianapolis, IN
Evening storms on July 4 could impact Indianapolis fireworks shows
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Thunderstorms could move in over Central Indiana this afternoon and evening as Indianapolis celebrates the Fourth of July, dampening fireworks shows.
The National Weather Service forecasts that scattered showers and thunderstorms could hit the Indianapolis area before 8 p.m. today, with showers likely and another thunderstorm possible between 8 and 9 p.m. – right before many area fireworks shows are scheduled to begin. The rainy skies aren’t likely to clear until after midnight, and the chance of precipitation today is around 60%.
The storms will move eastward as a low-pressure system in Illinois begins to collide with the hot, moist air mass enveloping Indiana, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Puma. Areas north of Indianapolis are more likely to see thunder and showers on the evening of July 4, while southern Indiana may dodge the storms, Puma said.
Organizers of the largest fireworks shows near Indianapolis haven’t announced any cancellations yet.
“Fourth Fest will be going ahead as scheduled,” Faith Thompson, a spokesperson for the Downtown Indy Alliance, which organizes the fireworks show downtown, wrote in an email. Updates will be posted on the Downtown Indy Alliance’s social media accounts.
Heat and humidity could impact festivities during the rest of the day. With a forecast high of 88 F and a heat index that could rise to 95 degrees in the late afternoon, Indianapolis remains under a National Weather Service heat advisory until 9 p.m. Tomorrow’s forecast is slightly cooler with scattered showers possible.
Though temperatures have cooled slightly after last week’s scorching heat wave, Puma said the health effects of hot weather can build up over time.
If you start to feel overheated, Puma recommends drinking plenty of fluids and moving indoors. If you’re planning to participate in outdoor activities, stay out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day, he said.
Tilly Robinson is a Pulliam fellow for the Indianapolis Star. She can be reached at tilly.robinson@indystar.com.