Washington’s Fourth of July parade was abruptly canceled due to the city’s extreme weekend temperatures.
Organizers of “America’s Independence Day Parade,” scheduled for 10:30 a.m., canceled the parade because of extreme heat in the Washington area.
Scheduled to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, the massive Saturday morning march along Constitution Avenue was called off to protect participants and spectators from an anticipated heat index of 110 to 115 degrees.
Temperatures are expected to reach 102 degrees, and the National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for the nation’s capital. The temperature had already reached 95 degrees by 11 a.m.
“This decision was made after extensive and careful consideration of the safety of our participants, spectators and staff as the top priority,” a statement from Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office reads.
Cities across the East Coast have been hit with a sweltering heat wave, prompting numerous semiquincentennial events to be canceled.
In Philadelphia, city officials on Friday canceled their “Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade” — expected to be the largest 250th-anniversary parade in the nation — after temperatures tied a record high of 103 degrees.
Due to safety concerns, officials delayed entry to Saturday’s “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” by four hours, shifting the opening from noon to 4 p.m.
In the nation’s capital, the Great American State Fair temporarily closed Friday afternoon and the U.S. Capitol Police delayed entry to the Independence Day eve “A Capitol Fourth” concert to limit prolonged sun exposure as the temperature climbed over 100 degrees.
The National Mall’s “Salute to America” July Fourth celebration has pushed back entry hours because of the expected high temperatures, shifting from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, four hours later than planned.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning across the Washington and Baltimore areas until 9 p.m., as temperatures push into the upper 90s to low 100s, and humidity will drive afternoon “feels-like” heat indices to 102 to 110 degrees, with some urban spots feeling even hotter. Thunderstorms Saturday evening are expected to cool the area slightly.
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