Hampton Roads fireworks shows impacted by storms
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Storms impacted some fireworks shows in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore, with Suffolk making the call to cancel its fireworks show and Cape Charles choosing to postpone its show until Friday, but most others, such as the one at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, took place as scheduled.
Suffolk show canceled
Suffolk said in a social media post that "we are sad to announce that our fireworks show is canceled tonight due to the impending weather. Thank you to everyone that made it out to Constant's Wharf Park and Marina."
In a Facebook post from Suffolk Parks and Recreation, it said that the fireworks show cannot be rescheduled. It noted in a reply to others inquiring about a possible rescheduling that it would not have the barge available that it normally uses for the launching of the fireworks.
"They've already been loaded for the show, but we are not able to reschedule," it said. "They will be returned to the fireworks company."
Cape Charles
The Cape Charles show has been postponed until Friday.
It was scheduled to go on as of 8:20 p.m., but the town said it had planned to reassess its plans. It asked people to be patient "as the pyrotechnicians and fire marshal determine the best and safest route to go."
Newport News
The city of Newport News said its fireworks show would begin at 9:15 p.m. Trolleys are back on their normal event schedule.
Due to an impending stormfront, the city of Newport News had been asking those attending its Stars in the Sky July 4 event to seek shelter.
The city is monitoring the weather and will provide updates regarding the fireworks show. No decision has been made on whether to hold the fireworks show, but it has paused trolley service for the event due to the weather.
The city of Hampton said its fourth of July drone show was back on for 9:30 p.m. It had previously asked people to shelter due to the storm that had been moving through the area.
WAVY viewer Dana Chapman sent in photos of storm clouds from the Phoebus area of Hampton.
In Yorktown, fireworks are still scheduled to go on this evening. On its official tourism Facebook page, Visit Yorktown, it said that "it looks like the severe weather is behind us."
It said that while most of its activities, such as the jazz band performance, the reading of the Declaration of Independence and bell ringing are canceled, "we're still planning to launch fireworks!"
It said it would stream its show on the Visit Yorktown Facebook page.
It noted that there is a backup on Cook Road that is causing traffic delays, so people may experience a delay in trying to get back to historic Yorktown for the fireworks show.
Colonial Williamsburg said storms had cleared that area and that its performances and fireworks were going on as planned.
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach bumped up its fireworks at the Oceanfront to beat an incoming storm, while the fireworks at Mount Trashmore took place as scheduled.
Fireworks at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront were scheduled to start at 8:50 p.m. A VB Alert sent to phones said that it started early in order to avoid cancelation. The fireworks display at Mount Trashmore was to start on schedule.
Virginia Beach Police said it would be diverting traffic from the Oceanfront after the fireworks show at Park and 21st streets.
Storms appeared to move in on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Viewer photos from the Oceanfront show storm clouds moving in.
Another viewer took a photograph of the storm clouds over Rudee Inlet.
In Dam Neck, a WAVY viewer caught an ominous-looking sky while at the beach.
The city of Norfolk said its fireworks show at Town Point Park was still on as scheduled.
WAVY viewer Noah Wilson sent in photos of a shelf cloud over Ocean View.
Other fireworks shows in Chincoteague, as well as Corolla and Manteo, also went on as scheduled.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel had a wind advisory in effect earlier Thursday evening, but that has since been lifted.
