An extreme heat wave in the eastern US is placing a damper on July Fourth celebrations in Washington, DC, with organizers for the Great American State Fair announcing the occasion will open at 12 p.m. ET as we speak as an alternative of 10 a.m.
It comes after the honest — a 16-day exhibition showcasing the tradition of US states and territories on the National Mall — shut down for a number of hours yesterday amid temperatures that, mixed with the humidity, reached triple digits.
Dangerous warmth holds on as storms hearth up Saturday
Fourth of July weekend plans could also be disrupted by scorching warmth and a threat of sturdy thunderstorms.
A spokesperson for DC Fire & EMS mentioned emergency responders had 44 “patient contacts” on the honest earlier than it paused yesterday, although it’s unclear what number of of these have been for heat-related points. NCS’s Derek Van Dam, who’s been masking the occasion, reported the fairgrounds supplied little shade with few bushes or different safety, with some attendees counting on umbrellas for aid.
Meanwhile, organizers for an America 250 Independence Day Parade, which was set for 10:30 a.m. in Washington, DC, mentioned final evening it has been canceled due to the warmth. “This decision was made after extensive consultation with the National Park Service, the District of Columbia City Government and Freedom 250 and careful consideration of the safety of our participants, spectators, and staff as the top priority,” organizers wrote in a information launch.
A live performance that includes a number of artists on the Wharf has been postponed. The first artist was scheduled to carry out at 5 pm ET however the occasion will now begin at 7 pm ET.
The parade is separate from the Trump-backed Freedom 250 celebrations.
DC faces one more triple-digit excessive temperature as we speak and may even see its hottest Fourth of July ever recorded, together with the specter of scattered thunderstorms within the afternoon and night due to the humidity.
Organizers for the Great American State Fair, and the coinciding FIFA Fan Zone on the Mall, are encouraging friends to remain hydrated, and are distributing water all through the positioning, alongside with providing other resources like cooling areas.
NCS’s Rashard Rose, Brian Todd and Alisha Ebrahimji contributed to this report.