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Rain can put a damper on your July 4 display, and drought risks can turn a neighborhood celebration into a five-alarm fire.
By Judson Jones
Judson Jones is a meteorologist and reporter for The Times.
July 4, 2025, 5:30 a.m. ET
If you’re planning to light your Whistle Spliffs, cherry bombs, Ghost Rings (with or without the Afterglow Pistil), or a single whistling moon traveler this weekend, you may want to pay close attention to the weather.
From thunderstorms and lightning to trapped layers of smoky air, here are the many ways the weather could dampen — or enhance — your fireworks display.
Rain: Not a party stopper
Though it may make sitting outside waiting for the show miserable, rain, by itself, won’t dampen an explosion because fireworks burn so hot.
Many local shows around the country will go ahead in the case of rain, but lightning nearby generally means the show will not go on. Some of the biggest professional displays around the country have occasionally been called off.
In Washington, D.C., the National Park Service will cancel or delay the fireworks display if there is inclement weather, such as driving rain, high winds, lightning or low-ceiling cloud cover in the area.
This year, the nation’s capital won’t be facing these hurdles. “We’re going to have super weather here in Washington, D.C.,” said Bob Healy, a park ranger. “There’s supposed to be relatively low humidity compared to our heat wave in the prior weeks. Sunny weather, but relatively cool.”
