Rain, hail, lightning, possible tornadoes and a recently discovered eagle nest put a glitch in the 2023 Independence Day celebrations around the Denver metro area. At 2 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for areas around metro Denver, the eastern plains and parts of Nebraska and Kansas.

Weather delays hit Denver International Airport hard. DIA had the largest amount of interruptions in the country Tuesday, with 260 flights delayed and 171 cancelled within the U.S., according to Flight Aware.

At around 1 p.m., DIA announced a ground delay from 2-10 p.m. for travel due to incoming storms. The airport announced that delays would be up to two hours. With the possibility of violent storms moving through, the Town of Estes Park, the Highlands Ranch community and the City of Golden postponed their Independence Day fireworks displays on Tuesday as a safety precaution for thousands of people expected to attend.

The town of Kremmling decided to cancel its fireworks show in part to protect a pair of eagles nesting in the Kremmling Cliffs, where fireworks are usually set off.

Town officials confirmed the nest was discovered June 30.

“The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act provides protection for the nest and nestlings,” the town said in a news release.

The remaining Kremmling’s Independence Day festivities were moved to the Old Town Square. Estes Park’s Fourth of July fireworks show was moved to Saturday, July 15. Golden said its show will be held later this summer and Highlands Ranch is also rescheduling its celebration with no specific date announced.

The Highlands Ranch Community Association, Highlands Ranch Metro District, Douglas County, South Metro Fire Rescue, and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office issued a joint statement in response to the need to cancel the fireworks that the postponement was due the need to keep people safe during “unpredictable weather.”

The City of Boulder made modifications to its 4th of July drone light show celebration saying, “The safety of our guests and performers is paramount to Boulder’s 2023 4th of July celebration, as we keep an eye on the latest weather reports.”

Southwest Airlines warned air travelers that inclement weather hitting Denver may disrupt flights, informing them on their website that “Customers holding reservations to, from, or through the city listed above (Denver) on Tuesday, July 4 and want to alter their travel plans may rebook in the original class of service or travel standby (within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with our accommodation procedures) without paying additional charges.”

To lessen travelers’ anxiety, DIA had several therapy dogs on the concourses throughout the day, including Riley the German Shepard/Lab mix and Gabriel the Belgian Malinois.