Just a few hours after the announcement, Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez told all attendees to “evacuate event grounds and seek temporary shelter in a nearby building,” saying organizers will “share updates on programming and doors reopening.”
Amid a record-setting heat wave that began earlier in the week on the East Coast, the warning was issued at 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time with a severity of “significant threat to life or property.” The warning is currently in effect until 10:00 p.m.
Temperatures throughout Friday and Saturday rose above 100 degrees Fahrenheit as visitors from across the nation descended on the nation’s capital to celebrate America 250, and several events were canceled or delayed on Saturday due to the heat.
“In addition to bringing cooler temperatures,” the NWS announcement said, “the front settling southward from the Northeast into the Mid-Atlantic will become a focus for showers and thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may become strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts possible this evening and again Sunday across portions of the Mid-Atlantic.”
The warning threatens to affect the rest of the day’s festivities, particularly Trump’s speech, which is slated to begin around 10:00 p.m.
TRUMP TOUTS DC CROWDS AND DOWNPLAYS HEAT WAVE: ‘ISN’T AS BAD AS EXPECTED’
“In addition to the wind threat, thunderstorms will also be capable of producing heavy rainfall, with an increasing threat of repeating storms and flooding as the front slows and stalls across the region later this weekend into early next week,” the NWS announcement also said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
