Fourth of July on Long Island: Showers could be a factor in fireworks shows, outdoor plans

Independence Day on Long Island will feature a bevy of events and increased public transportation to help residents get to them.

But a chance of scattered showers throughout the weekend threatens to derail those outdoor plans, meteorologists say.

Here are some of the things you need to know to celebrate the Fourth this year.

Risk of a wet Fourth

The National Weather Service in Upton projects scattered showers and thunderstorms throughout the holiday weekend thanks to a weak frontal system that will stall over Long Island starting on Thursday night.

John Murray, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, told Newsday that chances of rain over the holiday weekend will range from about 30% to 50%, with the higher chances of rain anticipated to affect western Long Island. 

Thursday's forecast is for a partly sunny day until 4 p.m., when a 20% chance of rain first appears. From 8 p.m. on, the probability of rain rises to as high as 50%. The weather service also projects a slight chance of thunder throughout Thursday evening.

Still, Murray says he does not believe the forecast means Long Islanders Independence Day plans are doomed. If it does rain, Murray explained, storms are unlikely to bring more than a quarter of an inch of rain.

“The rain isn't going to be a washout or an all-day rain situation,” Murray said. “Our percentages would be much higher if we projected there was going to be a lot of rain.”

Long Islanders' best bet for a span of dry hours will be late Sunday morning and into the early afternoon, he added.

The weather service projects daytime temperatures will stay in the low to mid 80s throughout the holiday weekend, with the warmest hours typically coming in the early afternoon. At night, temperatures will gradually dip into the 70s.

It also projects rip current risks will be moderate at South Shore beaches on Thursday morning and afternoon, with a chance of rising to a higher risk in the evening. 

Long Islanders should check for daily forecast updates before they embark on their plans, Murray said.

A range of holiday events 

Independence Day festivities on Long Island will include fireworks, concerts, parades, and even races.

In addition to the major firework shows at Jones Beach and Eisenhower Park, many towns will host firework shows that residents can enjoy from the comfort of their own neighborhoods or local beaches.

In Asharoken, fireworks launched from a barge on Long Island Sound can be seen throughout Northport. 

On the South Shore, the Village of Rockville Centre will launch its annual fireworks from Barasch Field, which is near Lynbrook and Oceanside.

Residents should check with their village, town or local fire departments to see if there are any shows planned locally.

One of the bigger fireworks events, the Empire State Fair, which is being held at the Nassau Coliseum from June 28 to July 14, will be hosting fireworks shows on Thursday and Saturday night.

Bob DeStefano, the fair's general manager, told Newsday the show will be put on by Bellport-based Grucci Fireworks and parking is free, which he says is “unlike some other firework exhibitions.”

“If the weather gods are in our favor, we should be very busy,” DeStefano, who is in his third year working with the fair and lives in Stony Brook, said. “We have a beautiful arrangement of rides, there is a ton of things for kids to do, and we have any type of food that you might want.”

In Central Islip, the Long Island Ducks will host a fireworks show of their own after their 6:35 matchup with the Charleston Dirty Birds at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.

For those looking for a more active Independence Day celebration, there will be multiple races on Thursday morning celebrating the holiday, including ones hosted by the Long Island Maritime Museum and the City of Long Beach.

On Saturday night at the Catholic Health Amphitheater at Bald Hill in Farmingville, Walker Hayes will perform his smash hit “Fancy Like” and other country music artists will also perform. .

Enhanced public transportation

Mass transit services on Long Island are preparing for increased inter-Long Island travel by offering more train and bus times than they would on a normal Thursday.

The Long Island Rail Road will be operating on a weekend schedule on Thursday and will offer an extra evening train from Montauk to Jamaica on Sunday night, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Tuesday morning.

The Nassau Inter-County Express, or NICE, will run a Sunday schedule on Thursday and will also offer a service to the Jones Beach's annual fireworks show. 

“NICE can provide access to the beach even when the parking lots are full and closed,” Mark Smith, a spokesperson for the company, told Newsday in an emailed statement. 

“Historically on the Fourth when the weather is good we will serve more than 2,000 rides to and from Jones Beach throughout the day,” he added.

Both the LIRR and NICE will run on a regular Friday schedule on the 5th.