Cousins Eloise Trabucchi, 8, and Genevieve Biancamano, 8, of North...

Cousins Eloise Trabucchi, 8, and Genevieve Biancamano, 8, of North Sea, watch the Southampton Fourth of July parade from atop a sculpture at Agawam Park in Southampton on Saturday. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin

Today’s sweltering heat on Long Island fell just short of the record books for the hottest Independence Day, National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Wunsch said. Islip climbed to a sweltering 96 degrees, Wunsch said — just one degree shy of the 97 degree record high recorded there in 1966 and 2010.

Independence Day celebrations and fireworks displays tonight could be disrupted by thunderstorms on Long Island, as the region remains gripped by sweltering heat. An extreme heat warning remained in effect for most of the region until 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Wunsch said storms developing over Pennsylvania were expected to track east and then southeast toward the New York City area and Long Island.

“I know a lot of people are out today, but it does look like there’s a pretty good chance that we’re going to see strong to severe thunderstorms at some point this evening,” Wunsch said.

Gregg Sarra sounds off on football quarterfinals, Michael Sicoli has a breakdown of the Long Island soccer playoffs and Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week. Credit: Newsday

Sarra Sounds Off: Football and soccer playoffs, plus plays of the week Gregg Sarra sounds off on football quarterfinals, Michael Sicoli has a breakdown of the Long Island soccer playoffs and Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week.

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