Pittsburgh is temporarily suspending its Independence Day celebrations as intermittent rain and thunderstorms batter the region.
The city said it will provide further updates on programming as it monitors the weather.
In a post on social media post at about 5 p.m., the city said lightning had been detected within 8 miles of events and advised visitors to take shelter.
Shelters downtown are located at the Wyndham Grand Hotel and the United Steel Workers Building garage, the post said.
Visitors to the North Shore can find shelter at Acrisure Stadium — and many did as televisions throughout the stadium’s Great Hall broadcast the France vs. Paraguay game of the FIFA World Cup.
Evan Hauze said he came to Pittsburgh from his native Bedford to celebrate Independence Day and watch the city’s fireworks display.
But taking refuge from the rain at Acrisure wasn’t such a bad alternative. A fan of French soccer phenom Kylian Mbappe, Hauze, 21, said he enjoyed watching the match and reacquainting himself with the Steelers’ home turf.
Clad in a French soccer jersey and USA ballcap, Joey Gramz said he hoped to stick around for the fireworks after the conclusion of the match.
Gramz, 25, of Pittsburgh’s West End said attendance was slimmer than he expected, but he was glad to see so many young soccer fans playing impromptu games in the stadium’s interior.
It was sentiment shared by Justin Schwartz and Ellie Fiessigner, both of Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood, who said they were hoping for better weather but glad to see fellow viewers enjoying the gametime atmosphere.
“It looks like everyone is making the best of what’s happening,” said Schwartz, 29.
In addition the the city’s temporary suspension of Independence Day programming, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announced Saturday evening that it would cancel its free concert at the North Side’s Arts Landing development because of weather conditions.
The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m. for much of Western Pennsylvania.
Downtown festivities began at 4 p.m. before the suspencion, ahead of a fireworks display at 9:35 p.m.