Rain Puts Damper On Fireworks Shows Across Area

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It was a wet night for those attending fireworks shows across the area Monday night.

It's been raining on-and-off Monday night as 3 million people are expected to attend the Macy's fireworks show in New York City.

CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported the conditions were not ideal, but the show did go on. A Macy's spokesperson said the show is weatherproof and they would only postpone it temporarily if there were severe weather issues.

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Crowds by the thousands came to Gantry Plaza in Long Island City to secure a spot for the Macy's fireworks extravaganza, as some waited all day. Just as quickly as they came to Gantry Plaza, they left once the rain started falling around 8:45 p.m., some 35 minutes before the nation's largest fireworks show was set to begin.

For those who stuck it out, it was worth it.

"I'm very patriotic. I try to get here every year for them," Lauren O'Rourke of Long Island said. "Wish it wasn't raining but you do what you have to do."

Kai Johnson of Queens said, "I didn't know that it was going to be this amazing."

"I've lived in New York for five years but never seen this event in person, so I was really excited to see the biggest fireworks show in person," Hells Kitchen resident Mike Moses said.

The NYPD stepped up patrols as barricades and perimeters were set up, and officers checked bags and backpacks.

"Leave the worry to us. It's going to be a great event," NYPD Chief of Department James O'Neill said. "You should see a lot of people out there tonight.

NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton added extra officers this year in response to the recent terror attacks in Baghdad, Bangladesh and Istanbul.

This also marks the first July 4th for the Critical Response Command – a 500-plus member unit dedicated to counterterrorism.

"You'll see a lot of uniformed and plainclothes out there, and a lot you won't see," O'Neill said.

The rain also put a damper on the fireworks show at Yogi Berra Stadium in Montclair, New Jersey.

CBS2's Ali Bauman reported the fireworks show started a half-hour early at 8:30 p.m. due to the rain, and that half the crowd left when the rain started. Some ended up watching the show from their cars.

Some of the adults told CBS2's Bauman that they were a little happy about the rain because it was an excuse to go home early and get to sleep in preparation for the work day.

The rain postponed fireworks shows in Middle Township and Maplewood until Tuesday night.