4th of July Texas Forecast, Is Your Texas Fireworks Show Safe?

Earlier this week, many 4th of July forecasts predicted that much of Texas would be hot and humid, with little to no rain across the Lone Star State.

But then, Barry.

Remember Tropical Storm Barry?

On June 29, Tropical Storm Barry made landfall near Tampico, Mexico, with top sustained winds of 45 mph. Barry would quickly dissipate to a tropical depression while bringing heavy rains to portions of eastern Mexico.

That was nearly a week ago, but the moisture from Barry could dampen some July 4th plans across parts of Texas.

Isolated Flooding Possible

The remnants from Barry have already been responsible for flooding on Thursday near the Big Bend, and isolated flooding is possible through Friday morning from San Angelo through the Hill Country to portions of the South Texas Plains.

While flooding will be the exception, the rule will be rain chances throughout much of Texas for Independence Day.

Rain Chances for the 4th of July

Abilene - 50%
Austin/San Antonio - 30%
Dallas/Fort Worth - 40%
Wichita Falls - 60%
Waco - 40%
Bryan/College Station - 20%
Corpus Christi - 20%
Tyler/Texarkana/Lufkin/Houston - 30%

Those areas of Texas that aren't expecting rain for the 4th include the Panhandle, Far West Texas, and the southern tip of Texas.

Here's the Good News

By 9 p.m., when most of the big fireworks shows are about to start, the chance of rain throughout much of the Lone Star State will have significantly lessened.

Several weather models show a few pockets of light to moderate showers south of Abilene and north of Houston. But, for the most part, the forecast looks favorable for fireworks by Friday night.

40 Outrageous Fireworks Names That Sound Fake, But Are Actually Real

In states where fireworks are legal to purchase, stores have to rely on creative names to entice buyers. It's not like they can just go out and light off a test rocket to show customers.

Here are some of the best fireworks names we found when searching leading industry stores' online inventory.

Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll

How Do Fireworks Get Their Colors?

Besides being a fun fact to impress your friends during the finale, knowing what makes fireworks work is a reminder of just how intertwined our daily lives are with Earth’s natural resources. Some of these minerals are considered critical commodities, meaning they’re vital to modern life and can be difficult to source.

So the next time you see a shimmering white sparkle or a deep red bloom over the Mohawk River, you’ll know: there's real science, and some pretty rare elements behind all that beauty.

It all comes down to chemistry. When fireworks are launched, metallic compounds, also called mineral elements, are heated to really hot temperatures. And as they burn, they emit specific colors of light.

The more complex the mix, the more dazzling the display.

Gallery Credit: Unsplash/TSM