Nearly one million households across multiple states are experiencing power outages as a severe heatwave blankets the U.S. Midwest and Northeast. The current total of 956,388 outages, as tracked by PowerOutage, impacts households, suggesting a larger number of individuals are affected.
The extreme weather conditions are coinciding with the nation's 250th birthday celebrations. In Philadelphia, the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade, originally scheduled for Friday, was canceled due to the dangerous heat, according to local reports. The city is experiencing dangerous triple-digit temperatures.
In Washington D.C., the America's Independence Day Parade, set for July 4, was also canceled late Friday by organizers due to extreme heat. The National Weather Service issued an Extreme Heat Warning for the District of Columbia, with heat index values expected to reach between 110°F and 115°F. This decision was made after extensive consultation with the National Park Service, the District of Columbia City Government, and Freedom 250, with the safety of participants, spectators, and staff prioritized.
Organizers for the Great American State Fair and FIFA Fan Zone on the National Mall announced that these events would open at noon on Saturday, two hours later than originally planned, due to the extreme heat. This marks the latest weather-related schedule adjustment from Freedom 250 as Washington, D.C., braces for another day of dangerous temperatures.
The outages and canceled events are occurring as some areas are expected to experience severe weather and stifling heat again on Saturday, impacting millions of Americans during the holiday weekend.