First day of AirFest shortened by storms

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Attendees of MacDill Air Force Base's AirFest were forced to their vehicles after storms as lightning moved across the Bay Area on Saturday. 

AirFest officials stressed the event was not canceled, only delayed while rain passed.

The wide-open flight line and runways that host the popular air show have little in the way of cover from rain and especially lightning, so the slow-moving storms left organizers little choice.

The scheduled performance of the famed U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds was delayed until 4 p.m., but did take place despite the still-gray skies. 

Sunday's AirFest activities are expected to proceed on schedule now that the storms appear to be moving out of the Bay Area.