If you plan to shoot fireworks this week to celebrate the Fourth of July, don’t shoot them in the city limits of Athens, Madison or Huntsville because it is illegal to do so.

Fireworks are legal in unincorporated parts of Limestone County, but revelers should still use caution and be aware dry conditions persist. According to the latest U.S. drought monitor released last Thursday, nearly all of the county is “abnormally dry,” which is just one step below “moderate drought.”

Parts of extreme southeast Alabama are experiencing severe drought, while portions of Jefferson and Shelby counties are in moderate drought.

A new drought monitor will be issued Thursday.

After an incredibly wet winter, only 2.86 inches of rain has fallen in Limestone County in the month of June. That number is 1.64 inches less than what’s considered a normal value for this time of year.

Some relief may be on the way, however. Kris White, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Huntsville, said there will be a 50 percent chance of showers and storms Thursday afternoon. Highs will hover around 90 with dew points in the 70s, which will bring the heat index up to around 100.

The chance of rain and storms will hang on through the rest of the week with a 40 percent chance of showers and storms Friday and Saturday and a 50 percent chance Sunday.

“We’re just in that typical summer pattern,” White said. “It’s going to be hot and humid.”

Injuries on the rise

In addition to the fire threat caused by fireworks, they are also a source of emergency room visits for some. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, fireworks-related eye injuries rose from 700 in 2016 to nearly 1,200 in 2017.

“An average of 280 people a day will go to the emergency room with fireworks-related injuries during the two weeks before and after July Fourth,” said Dr. Dianna Seldomridge, clinical spokesperson for the AAO.

The Academy offers the following tips:

• Keep a safe distance from fireworks: A recent study found bystanders account for 65% of people injured by fireworks;

• Don’t pick up duds and misfires;

• Supervise children closely: Sparklers seem like harmless fun for children, but they cause about 1,400 eye injuries each year. Even tiny poppers or snappers can be dangerous; and

• Wear protective eyewear: Buy American National Standards Institute-approved safety glasses for the entire family.

If a fireworks-related eye injury occurs, the AAO outlines what to do:

• Seek medical attention immediately;

• Do not rub the eye. Rubbing may make the injury worse;

• Do not attempt to rinse the eye;

• Do not apply pressure to the eye;

• Do not remove objects from the eye; and

• Do not apply ointments or take pain medications before seeking medical help.