(FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - The Fourth of July festivities continued on the Esplanade nearly a half hour after evacuations were ordered due to severe weather.
Officials called for attendees to evacuate the Esplanade around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday as thunderstorms moved into the area. Attendees were urged to seek shelter and wait out the storms. Hundreds of people stood inside the Storrow Drive tunnel to wait until the storms passed.
Massachusetts State Police say they decided to evacuate after the National Weather Service forecasted an electrical storm to pass over the Esplanade. They said lightning was observed near the Charles River and neighboring communities.
The evacuations were the result of a rocky day of weather in southern New England.
A couple of downpours popped up late in the afternoon. Beaches from Marshfield to Plymouth were drenched briefly.
The heaviest activity was in northern New England with damaging thunderstorms knocking down trees and damaging a boat in Vermont. Three people were reportedly struck by lightning in New Hampshire.
Any storm reports or pictures are welcome additions to our weather segments. Send them to weather@myfoxboston.com
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