The Essex County Summer Music Concert Wednesday night in Newark's West Side Park has been canceled due to thunderstorms.

The free show, to be performed by the diverse melodic rock band Cross Culture Club, was scheduled for 7 p.m. at the S. 17th Street park.

More showers and thunderstorms are expected before midnight, with some storms bringing hail, damaging winds and heavy rain, according to National Weather Service. A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Essex county until 9 p.m. The good news though: Temperatures will drop to around 76.

Downtown Newark was battered by heavy hail shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday, as skies darkened with flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder. A flash-flood warning is in effect for the area until 6:30 p.m.

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