Severe summer storms and flash-flood alerts forced communities across the United States to scrap Independence Day fireworks on Friday, stretching from Central Texas to the Sierra Nevada and Florida’s Atlantic coast. In Texas, the National Weather Service issued a flash-flood warning for north-western Travis and south-western Williamson Counties as up to two inches of rain fell in an hour. Austin cancelled its annual fireworks and Star Spangled Fest at Auditorium Shores, citing saturated grounds and safety risks. The Lower Colorado River Authority said it would open multiple floodgates at Wirtz and Starcke dams to relieve rising water on the Colorado River. Nearby Round Rock shut down its celebration early, and Waco called off the ‘Fourth on the Brazos’ after day-long downpours made riverfront grounds unusable. Heavy weather also derailed plans at Lake Tahoe, where the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District cancelled Incline Village’s show when high winds damaged the launch barge and left it partially submerged. Washoe County authorities closed Incline and Ski beaches and the local boat ramp while crews secured fireworks and debris. On the opposite side of the country, a lightning strike in Sanford, Florida triggered an unintended blast of prepared fireworks, damaging equipment and compelling officials to cancel the night-time display. Mayor Art Woodruff said no injuries were reported and other festival activities continued. Lightning and storm threats separately prompted Lake Zurich, Illinois and Leadville, Colorado to cut their programmes short.