A parade in Washington was canceled due to record-breaking heat
The U.S. Independence Day parade, which was scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., on July 4, has been canceled due to extreme heat. Meteorologists warn that temperatures could exceed +43°C, so organizers decided not to put people’s safety at risk.
The heat wave has swept across a significant portion of the country. According to U.S. meteorologists, nearly 200 million U.S. residents have received warnings about dangerous temperatures. In the U.S. capital, the traditional Independence Day parade was canceled due to the abnormal heat, Bloomberg reports.
The U.S. National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for the District of Columbia. Forecasts indicate that on July 4, temperatures will range from 43.3°C to 46.1°C. It was precisely because of these weather conditions that organizers decided to cancel the festive parade, which was scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. local time. “This decision was made after careful and thorough consideration of the safety of our participants, spectators, and staff as our top priority,” the organizers stated.
The heat wave has affected more than just Washington. According to the U.S. National Weather Service, more than 197 million people were under heat warnings on Friday. This covers an area stretching from Kansas to Maine, where forecasters predict extremely high temperatures. Meteorologists are urging people to avoid going out in the sun during the hottest hours of the day unless necessary, to drink plenty of water, and to avoid spending long periods of time outdoors.
This year’s U.S. Independence Day celebrations hold special significance. The country is marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which proclaimed the United States’ independence from Great Britain. Although the parade has been canceled, some other festive events—including evening concerts and fireworks displays—may still take place, weather and security permitting, according to Bloomberg.
To mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, President Donald Trump unveiled a redesigned $100 bill, which features the signature of the country’s sitting president for the first time in history.
