On July 4, Fireworks In MA May Be Provided By Thunderstorms: Forecast

MASSACHUSETTS — Whatever Independence Day plans you have set this year, Mother Nature has something else in store.

Massachusetts will continue to see unsettled weather on Monday and July 4, with a risk of severe thunderstorms in the forecast for both days. The storms could bring even more torrential rain, cloud-to-ground lightning and high winds.

The storms will roll through the state Monday between about 3 p.m. and midnight, and then from about 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 4, according to the National Weather Service. The Mass Pike corridor will see the highest chance of storms on both days.

Monday's storms will be "hit or miss," the weather service said. But there's greater certainty that July 4 storms will cover a wider area of the state.

The storms set to hit Massachusetts are part of a wider band of unsettled weather affecting an area from Alabama to Albany, according to AccuWeather. Forecasters are warning July 4 revelers to stay safe and head to shelter when thunder roars. The weather service said torrential rain, street flooding and lightning are the biggest threats.

"With large numbers of people spending time outdoors due to the Independence Day holiday, forecasters urge people to move indoors at the first rumble of thunder. Tents, golf carts and picnic pavilions do not offer adequate protection from lightning," AccuWeather said in a forecast.

It's also advisable to check if local fireworks set for July 4 are still on. Some towns have rescheduled shows until Wednesday, which will be mostly dry, forecasts say.