The 4th of July might be a Big Apple washout.
New Yorkers preparing for cookouts and fireworks shows will also have to keep an eye on weather reports, which are now forecasting rain for Gotham on Friday.
Tropical Storm Arthur was brewing Tuesday southeast of Cape Canaveral in Florida, AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Walker said.
A tropical storm was brewing midday Tuesday, about 95 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral in Florida, AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Walker said.
That northbound storm could become a hurricane by the time it reaches the North Carolina coastline on Thursday.
Once it hits Carolina, the system is expected to veer east as it heads north and shouldn’t hit New York with anything close to Sandy-like strength.
But it’ll likely bring rain to New York on Friday morning, according to forecasts. The high temperature is forecast to be 77 degrees on Friday afternoon.
“The best-case scenario is that things will dry out by the afternoon and evening, in time for the fireworks,” Walker said.
Macy’s is scheduled to stage its huge fireworks show in the East River on Friday.
There’s never been a rainout in the 37 previous Macy’s July 4 shows, although one year it was delayed for a passing storm, a store rep said.
“Confident, not cocky … [that] the show will go on,” Macy’s spokeswoman Deanna Williams said.
A rep for Macy’s, which is scheduled to stage its huge fireworks show in the East River on Friday, could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday.
Meteorologists should have a better idea of the storm’s progress and its impact on the 4th of July in New York by Wednesday afternoon, Walker said.
Even if Friday turns out to be all wet, at least Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be clear and sunny, with temperatures reaching 82 degrees and 85 degrees.