Coastal communities prepare for Hurricane Arthur

The storm is expected to pass east of New England beginning Friday night.

People ran through a downpour in Cambridge after the fireworks display.

Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

People ran through a downpour in Cambridge after the fireworks display.

The Esplanade was empty except for this couple following an evacuation order.

Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

The Esplanade was empty except for this couple following an evacuation order.

Warnings were issued for people to use emergency shelter due to the weather.

Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

Warnings were issued for people to use emergency shelter due to the weather.

Members of the crowd were ordered to evacuate as storms hit the Boston area.

Faiz Siddiqui for The Boston Globe

Members of the crowd were ordered to evacuate as storms hit the Boston area.

From Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, Katie Tong and Ben Morrow watched the fireworks over the Charles River.

Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

From Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, Katie Tong and Ben Morrow watched the fireworks over the Charles River.

The fireworks display was moved ahead of schedule due to the weather.

Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff

The fireworks display was moved ahead of schedule due to the weather.

This year's show also cut out the 1812 Overture as storms came to Boston.

Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff

This year's show also cut out the 1812 Overture as storms came to Boston.

The display lasted about 20 minutes before authorities issued evacuation orders at the Esplanade.

Matthew J. Lee/Globe staff

The display lasted about 20 minutes before authorities issued evacuation orders at the Esplanade.

The Beach Boys joined the Boston Pops on stage.

Essdras M Suarez/Globe staff

The Beach Boys joined the Boston Pops on stage.

Members of the crowd gave a salute as they sang the national anthem.

Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff

Members of the crowd gave a salute as they sang the national anthem.

Flags waved as the crowd sang the national anthem.

Claire McNeill for the Boston Globe

Flags waved as the crowd sang the national anthem.

Governor Patrick reacted after firing a cannon before the concert.

Michael Dwyer/AP

Governor Patrick reacted after firing a cannon before the concert.

A NOAA satellite image taken early Friday showed Hurricane Arthur rolling across the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

NOAA/Associated Press

Arthur moves back toward open water

The storm began moving offshore after slamming into North Carolina?s barrier islands overnight.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/07/04/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/esplanade18-13316.jpg Storms force early end to Esplanade show

Officials ordered the crowd to evacuate once the fireworks display ended as severe weather arrived.

Music Review

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2014/07/04/BostonGlobe.com/Lifestyle/Images/suarez_04esplanade_MET_015.jpg Boston Pops don?t miss a beat

Thursday night?s performance was just as festive as if it had happened on the correct date.

Mayor Daniel Rizzo hailed a pro-casino vote in February.

Revere mayor took donations from men tied to Wynn plan

Daniel Rizzo has accepted thousands from two convicted felons he now calls ?unsuitable persons.?

Jon Lester has done a magnificent job keeping his impending free agency out of the news.

DAN SHAUGHNESSY

Picked-up pieces from world of sports

Was Jon Lester?s performance in New York Saturday night an audition for his eventual move to the Bronx?

Scrutiny eases on MBTA pensions

The state Legislature abandoned its effort to make the T retirement fund follow disclosure and ethics rules that apply to other pension funds.

Gordon College president D. Michael Lindsay.

Religious exemption to hiring rule urged

Gordon College?s president objects to an order barring federal contractors from discriminating in hiring on the basis of sexual orientation.