A dangerous heat wave blanketing much of the East Coast disrupted Fourth of July celebrations in Washington, D.C., forcing organizers to cancel or delay several events planned for the nation’s 250th Independence Day.
A heat dome settled over much of the eastern United States through the holiday weekend, sending temperatures into the triple digits. Washington remained under an “Extreme Heat Warning” on Saturday, with the National Weather Service forecasting a heat index as high as 113 degrees.
The extreme heat prompted officials to cancel Saturday morning’s Independence Day parade late Friday, while the opening of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall was delayed.
“In light of current heat conditions, Freedom 250, United States Park Police, National Park Service, the United States Secret Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have coordinated closely to adjust event timing and expand cooling resources, water stations, and medical support across the grounds,” organizers said in a statement.
“The safety and well-being of every guest remains our top priority as we celebrate this historic 250th Independence Day,” the statement said, adding that officials are “proud to welcome the public to a safe, well-prepared, and truly memorable celebration of America’s 250th birthday.”
Organizers encouraged guests to stay hydrated, wear lightweight clothing, apply sunscreen, take breaks in the shade, and utilize cooling areas. The event will feature complimentary water distribution and water refill stations, cooling tents, and air-conditioned cooling buses to prevent guests from overheating.
The Great American State Fair was also temporarily closed for several hours on Friday due to the extreme heat.
Officials also urged visitors to consider using Metro stations other than Smithsonian after the fireworks display.
“While Smithsonian station is the closest to the fireworks, there are several others nearby that are typically less crowded,” officials said. “We’ll be regulating the flow of customers at any crowded station to help keep you moving safely.”
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF ‘ALL MEN CREATED EQUAL’ — WHEN WILL THE UNBORN COUNT?
The oppressive heat also altered celebrations in Philadelphia, where temperatures were expected to reach 99 degrees. Plans to pitch a replica of George Washington’s Revolutionary War field headquarters tent on the lawn outside Independence Hall were scrapped because of the extreme heat.
“Washington has retreated to the air-conditioning,” W. Scott Stephenson, the president and chief executive of the Museum of the American Revolution, said on Saturday.
