Fourth of July holiday forecast: Will the rain hold out for fireworks and cookouts?

The National Weather Service forecasts it will be partly sunny with a high near 87 degrees in Akron for the holiday Thursday.

A smooth breeze of 5 to 7 miles per hour will come from north of the state in the afternoon.

Toward the late evening, the rain could return with a chance of thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Temperatures will drop to 69 degrees.

Here's the forecast for the rest of the weekend:

• Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Showers may continue after 5 p.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 87 degrees. Winds from the south will come in between 5 and 11 mph. Rainfall between a quarter and half of an inch may be possible. Storms are also expected after 8 p.m. Temperatures will drop to 66 degrees.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80 degrees all day. At night it will be partly cloudy, with a low around 61 degrees.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84 degrees all day. At night it will be partly cloudy, with a low around 64 degrees.