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Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular On Esplanade Moved To July 3 Due To Weather

BOSTON (CBS) – The threat from Tropical Storm Arthur has prompted organizers to move the July 4th festivities on the Esplanade up one day to July 3.

The previously scheduled July 3 rehearsal will be replaced with the full Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular show on Thursday.

READ: ESPLANADE PLANNING GUIDE

There will be no show on the 4th.

The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular will be broadcast live on CBSBoston.com, WBZ-TV and on WBZ NewsRadio 1030. WBZ NewsRadio 1030's broadcast tentatively begins at 7 p.m. CBSBoston.com and WBZ-TV start at 8 p.m.

The fireworks are scheduled for 10:30 p.m., but organizers say that times could be shifted.

Officials acknowledged that there are a number of logistical issues expected to arise from the rescheduled date.

Despite July 3 being a business day, there will be a number of road closures following the morning commute, including Storrow Drive at noon. Memorial Drive, along with the Longfellow and Mass. Ave. Bridges are closing at 6 p.m.

Police are also expecting large crowds to access public transportation.

While security checkpoints will be in place throughout the day, the secure oval will not be opened until 5 p.m.

State Police warned that inclement weather tomorrow could further alter plans, and that could include cancelling the fireworks until Saturday. Performer schedules and contracts prevented organizers from rescheduling the entire show for Saturday.

Lightning, rain and wind are all concerns, but for different reasons.

"The rain is a factor for the orchestra. If the rain is coming down hard enough that it comes into the hatch shell, it affects your instruments. These instruments are valuable and old," event organizer Rich McDonald said earlier today. "For the fireworks, we have a sustained wind of 20 mph, which is pretty hard. That's when we cannot fire by law the fireworks."

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