A severe heatwave across the United States disrupted the country’s 250th Independence Day celebrations on July 4, forcing cancellations of major events from New Jersey and Pennsylvania to Colorado. One of the largest parades, Philadelphia’s ‘Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade,’ was called off due to dangerous heat conditions. The National Weather Service reported that over 165 million people across the eastern and midwestern regions endured record-breaking temperatures, with several outdoor festivities suspended for public safety.

In Washington, D.C., the ‘Great American State Fair’ was temporarily closed after multiple visitors suffered heat-related illnesses, and at least 11 people were hospitalized. Authorities urged residents and tourists to take precautions as the heat index in cities like Philadelphia and Washington was expected to exceed 110°F. Despite the warnings, President Donald Trump confirmed plans to deliver his Independence Day speech outdoors. Meteorologists warned that the heatwave, already among the most intense in decades, would persist through the weekend.

Forecasters predicted that the extreme heat would spread further south and west from Sunday, reaching the southeastern United States and parts of Canada. Experts linked the prolonged and widespread heatwave to human-induced climate change, which has intensified global temperature extremes.