The Massachusetts State Police is shutting down entry to the Esplanade due to the weather.

“URGENT—Due to expected heavy rain and possibility of lightning thru 5 PM we are temporarily suspending entry onto the Esplanade at the security checkpoints,” the agency tweeted at around 2:30 p.m. “This is being done so that if we do have to evacuate venue in case of lightning, fewer visitors will have to be evacuated.”

The July 4 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and runs until around 11 when fireworks wrap up. Gates opened at noon, and officials say they are ready for an all-day affair.

Fireworks are planned for about 10:30 p.m., and the State Police did not elaborate on changes that far in advance.

After the rain and storms on Tuesday, it should finally be drier on Wednesday and Thursday, the Herald has reported, but it’s expected to be very warm and humid with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s.