Numerous severe thunderstorms are possible the evening of July 4 across Delaware, threatening America’s 250th birthday celebrations and fireworks.

The National Weather Service issued a severe storm potential for July 4 between 3 and 11 p.m. that could bring heavy rain, damaging winds, flash flooding and lightning.

Extreme heat and humidity experienced over the past few days will fuel a storm threat across the Mid-Atlantic region.

There’s a potential for frequent cloud-to-ground lightning in the evening, making outdoors and on-the-water activities dangerous, according to the weather service.

The silver lining is that any storms will offer relief for the record-breaking and near-record-breaking high temperatures the region has felt this week.

Wilmington hit 103 degree on Thursday, July 2, breaking the day’s record previously set at 98 degrees in 1941. The city hit 102 degrees on Friday, July 3, tying the all-time daily record high originally set in 1966.

Georgetown was 102 degrees on July 3, breaking its 101-degree daily record set in 1954.

Will the storms impact Fourth of July fireworks shows?

As as 11 a.m. July 4, fireworks shows across Delaware are still on schedule for the evening.

Delaware fireworks 2026: Where to see them for America’s 250

Wilmington’s Fourth of July Celebration will bring family entertainment, food and drinks, and an orchestra performance to the Riverfront. Fireworks will launch at 9:30 p.m.

Fireworks in Dover are slated to go off near Legislative Mall at 9:15 p.m., but because of the threat of weather conditions, people are asked to arrive early at 8 p.m.

Due to the extreme heat, Bethany Beach postponed its July 3 Independence Day Parade, but its fireworks are still set to take off at 7:30 p.m. July 4.

Middletown will set off its fireworks at Silver Lake Park once it gets dark on July 4. A rain date of July 5 has been set in case storms blow in.

How hot will it be July 4?

The heat dome over the Central and Eastern United States continues to bring extreme heat to Delaware on Independence Day. Here’s how hot it’s expected to be across the First State.

A Delaware farm owner and animal enthusiast was fatally crushed by one of his own camels in a freak accident last week that’s left his loved ones reeling.

Juan Caride, 65, was “tending to his camel” when the animal fell on him, resulting in his death, a spokesperson for the Delaware State Police confirmed to Delaware Online.

For those close to Caride, who also owned a local pawn shop, the loss is profound.

Torres Hector, whom Caride considered a brother, told Delaware Online that one of the last things Caride said to him was, “I love you.”

Hector recalled responding, “I love you, too, papi.”

The Caride family operates a 50-acre farm in Felton, where they care for 20 horses, nine donkeys, and three camels: Bubbles, Chocolate, and Batman.

Juan’s wife, Toni Caride, had raised the camels since they were calves. In a 2014 interview with Delaware Online, she noted their “really nice personalities,” describing them as “loveable” animals that enjoyed interacting with people.

It was Juan’s idea to start the camel herd. According to his wife, Juan initially bought Batman, the camel who crushed him, as a single companion.

“He was about a week old when we got him, and we felt that he was lonely,” Toni explained. “So, he said I better get a couple more for him. So we went and found two females that were the same age and we got those for him.”

Reflecting on the couple’s character, a tearful Hector described Juan and Toni as “real beautiful” people.

Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer kicked off the July Fourth weekend with a sweet treat – for himself and the locals around him.

Meyer has been traveling across the state on a bike tour, moving from Lewes to Georgetown on July 2. On July 3, for his first stop, he chose to visit Marmy’s Creamery in Smyrna and treated others to ice cream on him.

“It was a really nice event for the community,” Smyrna’s Rich Wieland said. “It was just something different to do on a hot day.”

According to Wieland, around 50 people made it out for the event, all eager to welcome the governor. Meyer also began his morning with ice cream on July 2, as Uncle David’s Ice Cream truck of Lewes brought treats for Meyer and about a dozen bike riders who chose to travel with him.

The governor told the Cape Gazette that the bike tour was an opportunity to highlight some of the great pieces of Delaware.

“This is a great opportunity for us to come together for a few days and celebrate the beauty that is our state and our country,” Meyer said.

Meyer will head to Odessa by the end of July 3 and then continue to make his way up north on July 4.

Adam Denn is an intern reporter for Delaware Online/The News Journal. You can reach him at apdenn@delawareonline.com.