What's a little rain? Weather forecast not expected to dampen Red, White & Boom!
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If you're attending the Red, White & Boom! Independence Day celebration today in Downtown Columbus, it's a good idea to grab an umbrella. Rain in the forecast could make the festivities a bit damp, but the show will go on nevertheless, event organizers stated early Tuesday.
"Fireworks are rain or shine. The parade could be canceled for lightning, but we are not expecting lightning," co-executive director Shawn Verhoff said.
Verhoff added that canceling the event due to weather is a rarity. "We shot the (fireworks) show 15 minutes early in 2017 and delayed it 15 minutes sometime in the '90s, but that was before my time," he said.
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The National Weather Service in Wilmington is calling for showers this morning and a possible thunderstorm after 11 a.m. While the chance of precipitation is 80%, the rainfall is expected to be less than one-tenth of an inch, "higher amounts possible in thunderstorms," according to the weather service.
Later today, the chance of precipitation will decrease to 60%, but there's still a chance of a thunderstorm before 8 p.m., which could lead to more showers and thunderstorms between 8 and 11 p.m.
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Weather service meteorologist Brian Coniglio said on Sunday that pinpointing just where the showers might fall heaviest on the Red, White & Boom! crowd "could be a gamble with the scattered nature of the storms." As such, a brief downpour could drench Scioto Audubon Metro Park while North Bank Park could remain unaffected. Both are optimal spots for viewing the 10 p.m. fireworks in Genoa Park, 303 W. Broad St.
Despite the possibility of inclement weather, Verhoff said the celebration will forge ahead with an 11 a.m. street festival with food and drinks, live entertainment and more, leading up to the parade stepping off from the Main Street Bridge at 5:30 p.m.
Red, White & Boomers can expect a comfortably warm day — albeit a very humid one — with an expected high near 81 degrees. The evening will cool off a bit, with temperatures dropping to the high 60s.
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For those concerned about the impact of the Canadian wildfires on today's air quality, the National Weather Service predicts that smoke and haze will be minimized by clouds, scattered t-storms and mild winds.
However, the winds will change direction, carrying thin-density smoke into the area. Coupled with emissions from Independence Day fireworks, the air quality could deteriorate by evening, so unusually sensitive individuals are advised to limit their activity levels and time spent outdoors.
More: What to do if your dog is afraid of fireworks
Tuesday's weather looks more favorable for Fourth of July celebrations, with just a 20% chance of showers and possible thunderstorm after 11 a.m., sunnier skies and a high near 88 degrees.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Red White and Boom to go on despite weather forecast for rain
