And unfortunately, the weather is not ideal. There is rain moving in for the afternoon . Absolutely, and there is rain west of the beltway. But right now, we want to get a look live from the National Mall. Reporter good morning. We dont want any showers coming up at all. Despite the terror alert, hundreds of thousands of people will descend on the National Mall. Tight security expected, and the big draw will be a concert with a new host, Bradley Whitford, actor from the west wing. And headliners such as barry manilow, head hunter hayes, the country singer. And kc and the sunshine band. Well have an interview coming up, but people will enjoy a fantastic show and enjoy the festivities across the national. But i know we have details about the fireworks display and how the weather will be. Were hoping that the weather holds off. Absolutely, surae. And im with you hoping that the weather will hold off and well look at the threat for showers and thunderstorms to move out in time for the fireworks. I think that will play. Taking a look at the day planner heading into the evening hours with a bigger threat for showers and thunderstorms. By the time the sun is setting, everything will dissipate quickly. Thats the good news for today. 79 at 1 00, and 81 at 4 00 and still a threat for a thunderstorm at 7 00 with the temperature of 77. But once we get past sunset, that shuts off quickly and we have partly cloudy skies at 10 00 and a temperature of 72. And right now, 72 in annapolis, and 68 in winchester and leesburg and 67 in martinsburg. West of the immediate beltway in the Shenandoah Valley, we have 2 mile visibility. 2. 5 in warrenton and frederick, and closer to the beltway where the rain is not falling, we have clear skies. Well, clear visibility. And we will see the rain within the next hour or two in the immediate metro area, and im going to time out the arrival of more rain and storms with 9 futurecast coming up in the first alert 7 day. Back to you, mike. Thank you, erica. And we are continuing to track the fourth of july safety as we get ready to celebrate the countrys birthday. Law enforcement officers will be busy protecting the United States from a possible terror attack. To be clear, there is no specific threat but with 700,000 people expected to pack the National Mall, police have special patrols around the land park. And this follows a warning from the f. B. I. And department of Homeland Security about increased threats of isis inspired violence around the world. If you are going to fireworks on the National Mall, you will be going through a security checkpoint, and could you could be subject to a deeper search. The chief said her department is ready. A false alarm at the navy yard on thursday was a true test. We take every event in washington serious. Again, officials have no intelligence about a specific or credible threat but are not taking chances. Police agencies will be monitoring social media, and isis has used Online Presence to recruit socalled lone wolf attackers. Also, heightened security in new york city. No specific threats in the big apple, but arrests overallied isis sympathizers and attacks overseas has them ramping up with thousands of dogs and plainclothes officers and they are monitoring the citys 7000 surveillance cameras. And in d. C. , thousands will celebrate tonight. Barry manilow will headline the allstar event and kc and the sunshine band and surae chinn got to talk with the man himself. Reporter we are here with kc and the sunshine band. How are you . Reporter great. Tell me about playing here on the 4th. Its 1 of those raw moments in my career. I have been invited before and it never worked out, and this finally worked out, and i perform july 4 all over the country, and to be here performing for millions on television, also, one of the great moments in my life and my career, and i will always remember this moment. Reporter generations, young and old love you. You are kc and the sunshine band. You make people happy. That was the whole idea of the music. When i started doing this in the 70s, i thought it was really dark and i set out to reenergize and bring happiness, and here we are 40 years later, and we are bringing the same energy and happiness world wide. Reporter lots of happy people here tonight, and people in rehearsal were shaking it with the kc and sunshine band. There will be a lot going on at the capitol. There will be the National Symphony orchestra and a nice tribute to Frank Sinatra turning 100 this year, ol blue eyes there, and if you are going to be here early on the National Mall, a lot is going on 11 45, a parade going o and the folk Light Festival is all day long, and everything kicks off for the capitol fourth at 8 00 tonight. And that goes until 9 30 or up until the fireworks, and theyll be playing along as the fireworks go off. And hopefully, no rain. Thats what our hope is, crossing our fingers, mike, erica . Thank you, surae. We will talk to you in just a bit. And those performers are gearing up for the annual Independence Day parade surae just mentioned, the marching bands, military units, giant balloons, equestrian and drill teams all there to celebrate. The parade steps off at 11 45 this morning. And a warning about the danger of fireworks. A woman from capitol heights, maryland is recovering after she was injured when a firework explode inside her hand and sustained traumatic injuries. Tracking metro this morning and if you are heading to the National Mall for folk Light Festival or the foo fighters concert at rfk, metro will have trains for you. It will operate from 7 00 a. M. To 3 00 a. M. And near rushhour service to accommodate the extra people. Track work will be suspended for the holiday, and if you are heading to the mall, metro suggests people walk from metro center or the plaza over to the National Mall. And if youre planning to drink this holiday, do not drive. The Washington Region Alcohol Program is offing cree cab rides to curve drunk driving. Drunk drivers cause nearly 40 of all u. S. Traffic deaths on the 4th. Its very easy to get a ride. 1800200taxi on your cell phone. Police in hagerstown are remaining tight lipped for a 9 yearold who was beaten nearly to death by leroy wilson for taking a piece of cake. He admitted to handcuffing and beating his girlfriends little boy because the child took a piece of birthday cake without asking, and the records show this is not the first time. At last check, the boy is unconscious and still fighting for his life. And another little boy in the hospital. Police say that 21yearold Aaron Vanmeter beat his girlfriends 6yearold boy. He remains on life support. Vanmeter is charged with assault and child abuse. And a 27 water main broke on friday, and crews have been without water mostly in the Maryland City section of laurel. The National Archives will hold their annual celebration of the nations birthday reading the declaration of independence on the archive. Coming up in colorado, a plane crashes moments after takeoff. And police and firefigh ters pause to remember a a competitor. And a man walks right off a train platform and falls onto business train tracks. Erica . We mentioned the folk Light Festival, the second to the last day of it. And if you want to head down there, it will be unsettled with plenty of fog and low cloud cover. 76 as the festival is Getting Started with a chance for a shower, and then a chance for showers turns to eye chance for thunderstorms. We will get a few dry breaks here and there, but encourage to weather time. Its supposed to be red, white, and blue today. Were yellow. Yeah. Its a yellow alert day, and we have rain moving in right now, and im going to show it to you on doppler 9000 to see how close it is to the beltway. There it is on the approach. This is just a 3hour loop for you, and you can see that the rain is going to make it into the beltway within the next hour. Zooming down to culpepper county where the heaviest rain is falling, this is just a light to moderate shower but where the rain is in yellow, thats an area where the rain is coming down at a rate of about a quarter to half an inch. We are going to see that rain continue to push through, and we have the potential for thunderstorms. Another one of those day where is a few peeks of sunshine could provide us with the instability to get more rain going and then in the evening hours, things will clear up. Bad timing for the barbecue but good for the fireworks. 77 by noon and 78 at 5 00, and we should be the in the upper 80 this is time of year. Well only be in the low 80s. 68 in germantown and we have the temperatures in the upper 60s, and it is humid out there as well, and now we have the rain arriving. On 9 futurecast, we might have heavier downpours by noon in frederick county. If you have a barbecue plan, you can sneak it into the metro area by noon. You can see the rain starting to push towards the beltway and i95 corridor. At 2 00 p. M. , raining steadily, and then we will have the potential for the instability to get the thunderstorms going as well. But to the west and northwest of the beltway later in the afternoon to the early evening is a better chance for the barbecue. Here is your good news. By the time the fireworks are going off, were drying out with the potential for showers pushing south at this point. And today is a yellow alert day with a high of 82, and 86 on sunday, and sunday after the holiday, well get the sunshine back and just a slight chance for a shower, and then wednesday, it gets even a little bit more unsettled again with an isolated thunderstorm possible and a high of 86 degrees. In the first alert 7day forecast, 89 for the next few days and the middle of the work week looks seasonably warm and humidity went potential of showers and thunderstorms. Mike, we are not breaking from the pattern. Thank you, erica. They take to the air to save lives,ed but this time, they needed help. Their chopper crashed in frisco, colorado. Look at the flames there. Only the three crew members were on board, no patients. The pilot was killed and the other two people suffered non lifethreatening injuries. Moments after takeoff, witnesses say they could tell something went terribly wrong. We heard the helicopter take off, and it started to spin uncontrollably and then crash, a big explosion and debris actually came at me. Federal aviation investigators are trying to figure out what led to this relatively new helicopter to crash. Still to come, we head back to the National Mall as the fourth gets underway in the nations capitol. Plus, stuck 400 feet in the air as a florida ferris wheel comes to a screeching halt. And check this out. A live look at bristol, rhode island this morning. Did you know its americas most patriotic up to . Later, the oldest continuing fourth of july parade will come this summer take flight, without having to take a flight. Because all the thrills you need are right here at Busch Gardens, and water country usa. In williamsburg, va. Like the daring new coaster tempesto. So ride together slide together whether its monster drops collossal curls or Furry Friends its all here. Vacation packages start at 50 per person per night. The ultimate Summer Vacation is closer than you think at Busch Gardens and water country usa. Welcome back. 7 20. Im first alert meteorologist erica grow. I wanted to give you a look at the beach forecast for this weekend. And a lot of you will be heading down there if you are not already there. And the weather will improve heading into sunday. And this happens to be your week for beach vacation, youre in luck as the weather will be improving. But today, unsettled with a threat for showers and thunderstorms throughout the entire day. As we are heading further east of the beltway, closer to the delmarva beaches, the threat for showers and thunderstorms will hang on all day long even in the evening hours but look at the sunshine coming back sunday and monday. High temperatures around 80 degrees and we will see highs in the 70s for much of the metro area today with scattered showers and but well get up to 82 in downtown, and then we will see the temperatures getting a little bit warmer as we head into sunday. Mike . Thank you, erica. Today is the last full day of competition in the world police and fire games in fairfax county. But the games paused last night to honor brazilian cyclist who was killed on thursday. Carlos silva was killed and two others are in serious condition after a blowout with a tire and there was a Chain Reaction crash. Carlos was a great man and a great policeman. Two other riders were in serious condition, and one of them was identified as National Park service ranger, ryan levins. Indian tribal leaders are here and have a big push for their health alert. Reporter unitys National Conference is held this week the district. And they are hoping kids can bring what they learn about physical activity to their community. Back in 2013, the fda encouraged pharmaceutical companies to pursue abuse deterrent versions of drugs. They will be looking at oxycontin tablets with data on the updated version to see if there was a substantial impact on misuse. Have a happy and healthy fourth of july. A live look at ocean city and the boardwalk. Not a welcome back. 7 25, and thank you for watching wusa 9 this morning. A look at the Empire State Building this morning, the stars and stripes patriotic display lasting to tomorrow night. Looks great, always. And if you are celebrating, chances aryou are going down to the National Mall. Surae chinn, you have a good spot . Reporter oh, at 7 15 in the morning, a great spot but a lot of people will be heading to the west lawn for the anniversary of the capitol 4th concert, always a great treat. Entertainers include alabama, barry manilow, country sensation hunter hayes, and by the way, there is a new host this year. Tom bergeron did it last year, and this year, its Bradley Whitford from the west wing, and we have an interview with him in about 10 minutes. Mike, it will be great, and were hoping that the weather will cooperate; right . Erica believes it will. A philadelphia train station, a man, boom, falls right on the tracks. A subway worker sees him take a tumble and calls police. Officers shut the power off to the tracks and gets the man free. He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, very fortunate. Potomacs 15th annual Autism Speaks 5k and roller derby gets under way in about half an hour. Since 2000, this event has raised 3 million. Phenomenal. Coming up, well talk about todays celebrations on the mall. Plus, are you eating hot dogs this july 4 . Well introduce you to a few guys getting their fill. And then some. Weather wise, outdoor plans are going to have to be tentative. But the fireworks, i feel good about this one. Were clear out the thunderstorms and left over storms possible but likely well be dry were looking for the fireworks. Good saturday morning, 7 30, and were gearing up for americas Biggest Birthday Party on the National Mall. And beachgoerers are on alert. Seven shark attacks in three weeks on the east coast. Clouds, showers, and light rain falling and well clear out the fog but that could lead to thunderstorms later today, we will track them on futurecast coming up. Happy birth of july. Americas birthday once again. And we are getting off to a muggy start and feels summer like. Are we talking about drizzle or rain . Later on, it will get heavier, and it will not be as bad as last saturday but we will have the rain moving through and temperatures cooler than average. And we will see that on and off throughout the entire day. Lets take a look at doppler 9,000 and youll see the rain pushing towards us, very light stuff, but there is a pocket of heavier rainfall moving out of culpepper county and prince william, and you can see here on the map moving along route 28 and 15. This will push towards the belt kay, and it will start raining as we head into the 10 00 a. M. Shower i think in the immediate metro area, and thats when well see the rain falling. As the clouds break up, we will have peeks of sunshine that will lead to thunderstorms. At 1 00, storming in parts of region, 79 degrees and 4 00, 81. The High Temperature today, 82, and well reach that at 3 00. 68 in gaithersburg, and 66 in frederick, and 74 in downtown washington, and you can see some of the reduced visibility right now, down to 2 miles in front royal and 2. 5 in hagerstown. And closer to the water, were in good shape. On the satellite and radar, you can see the front moving towards us. You can see along the appalachians that it will clear out tonight and in time for the fireworks. More on that forecast coming up. The ground may be wet. The ground will be wet, absolutely. Thousands will be celebrating on the National Mall. Barry manilow will be heading the allstar event. And Brad Whitford spoke with surae chinn. Reporter no pressure. This is your first time hosting. No pressure. We just had the dress rehearsal not dress rehearsal but the blocking rehearsal. This will be tough. But, no. This is really exciting. Getting shot out of a cannon. No. This will be fun. Reporter talk about that. We are celebrating the nations birthday, and tell me about this incredibly traditional event thats happening tomorrow night. You know, its very rare that you can we can all come together and just celebrate. We really get to celebrate a joyous and moving experience. Reporter whats your mind frame . Will you just enjoy the moment when you st