Extreme heat has disrupted Fourth of July celebrations across the eastern United States, forcing the temporary closure of the White House's flagship Great American State Fair on the National Mall and prompting organisers to alter or cancel several outdoor events.
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More than 165 million people were under record-breaking temperatures on Friday across the East Coast and Midwest, according to the US National Weather Service, as one of the year's most intense heatwaves coincided with the Independence Day holiday.
Freedom 250, which is organising the Great American State Fair in Washington, DC, temporarily closed the event during the hottest part of the day.
Heat Forces Closures and Event Changes
"The safety and well-being of our guests, volunteers, performers, vendors, and staff is our highest priority," the organisation said in a social media statement.
The fair was scheduled to reopen at 17:00 local time after conditions were expected to improve.
The heatwave comes as President Donald Trump hosts celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, while several FIFA World Cup matches are also taking place outdoors.
Warnings Across the East
The National Weather Service warned that parts of the Midwest and eastern United States face "major" or "extreme" heat-related health risks.
Temperatures in Washington, DC, and Philadelphia were forecast to reach about 106F (41C), close to all-time records. Forecasters also predicted three consecutive days above 100F (38C) in Philadelphia and four such days in Washington.
Although hot and humid weather is common during North American summers, meteorologists said the scale and geographic extent of this heatwave make it particularly dangerous.
The hottest conditions are expected to continue through the holiday weekend before gradually easing early next week in some areas.
Holiday Events Curtailed
The extreme temperatures have affected many traditional Independence Day activities, including parades, festivals and concerts.
In Washington, US Capitol Police delayed public entry to the outdoor A Capitol Fourth concert until 19:00 local time because temperatures were expected to exceed 100F (38C). Entry to the National Mall for the evening fireworks display was also delayed until 17:00, while the fireworks themselves were scheduled to begin at 22:30, later than usual.
America 250, the bipartisan commission established by Congress to oversee the country's 250th anniversary commemorations, said it was closely monitoring weather conditions but expected its events, including block parties in Boston, Philadelphia and New York City, to continue.
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President Trump is still expected to deliver an outdoor address on Saturday despite the forecast heat. He told supporters he intended to give "a really long speech just to show that I can do anything."
In Philadelphia, organisers cancelled Friday's Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade because of the dangerous conditions.
Michael DelBene, chief executive of Wawa Welcome America, said cancelling such a major event at short notice was "heartbreaking", but safety had to come first.
Storms to Follow the Heat
New York City reached 100F (38C) on Thursday, its hottest day since 2012, with the heat index remaining in triple digits on Friday. Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the conditions as "extremely dangerous".
While temperatures are expected to ease slightly in some central areas over the weekend, dangerous heat will persist across parts of the East before shifting towards Virginia, the Carolinas and the southeastern United States. Hot conditions are also forecast to spread into western parts of the US and Canada next week.
Forecasters also warned that severe thunderstorms could sweep across the northern Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes, bringing damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding and the risk of isolated tornadoes as cooler air replaces the heat.
Canada has also experienced unusually high temperatures, with heat warnings issued across much of Quebec, including Montreal and Quebec City. In Ontario, temperatures were expected to reach the mid-30s Celsius.
Thunderstorms left more than 137,000 Hydro-Québec customers without electricity at their peak on Thursday evening. More than 51,000 customers remained without power on Friday morning, with outages largely caused by strong winds and lightning.
Scientists say heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting and more intense because of human-induced climate change. Global temperatures have risen by about 1.1C since the industrial era, with further warming expected unless greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 4 July 2026
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