Washington DC: America’s Independence Day Parade has reportedly been cancelled due to extreme heatwave in the Washington region, reported NBC News. The parade was scheduled to take place at 10:30 am (local time) in Washington DC. The city’s Emergency Operations Center issued a statement in this regard.
“The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for the District of Columbia, with heat index values expected to reach between 110°F and 115°F,” the center said, as quoted by the BNO News. “This decision was made after extensive and careful consideration of the safety of our participants, spectators, and staff as the top priority,” it added.
Notably, a blistering heatwave has gripped several states across the East Coast of the US. It also prompted the closure of the Great American State Fair on Friday and forced cancellations of other Independence Day celebrations.
Freedom 250, the organisation coordinating the America 250 celebrations, announced that the Great American State Fair on the National Mall would close until 5:00pm local time following consultations with public safety officials.
“Due to the heat, and in coordination with public safety officials, the Great American State Fair will be temporarily closed until 5:00 p.m. today,” the organisation said in a post on X.
“The safety and well-being of our guests, volunteers, performers, vendors, and staff is our highest priority. Conditions are expected to improve later this afternoon, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back at 5:00 p.m. as preparations continue for this evening’s festivities,” it added.
Temperatures in the US capital were close to 100°F shortly after 1:00pm ET, as a heatwave continued to affect much of the eastern United States.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is travelling to South Dakota on Friday evening to deliver a speech and watch fireworks at Mount Rushmore. Trump will deliver another speech at the National Mall in Washington on Saturday evening before what is being billed as a historically massive fireworks show.
From Boston to Norristown, Pennsylvania and Gettysburg National Military Park, plans were shifting to accommodate the soaring temperatures. New York City’s heat index reached 106 degrees on Thursday, prompting Mayor Zohran Mamdani to urge New Yorkers to conserve power “due to the increase in energy demand and unexpected load challenges”.