Washington DC’s Fourth of July parade canceled due to soaring temperature | Washington DC
Organizers of Saturday’s Independence Day parade in Washington, D.C., abruptly canceled the event late on the eve of the event, as sweltering temperatures in the nation’s capital and along the east coast wreaked havoc on America’s bicentennial celebrations.
The event, hosted by the National Park Service (NPS), was scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. However, organizers said they canceled the parade due to an overheart warning issued by the National Weather Service (NWS).
As the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence approaches on Saturday, severe temperatures, worsened by high humidity, are disrupting transportation services and straining the power grid. The cancellation of the parade is the latest setback caused by these circumstances.
Temperatures in Washington DC today are expected to reach 102F (39C), with heat index values reaching between 110 and 115F (43-46C).
Parade organizers said they decided to cancel “after extensive consultation” with the NPS, the city of Washington, D.C., and the Trump administration, which has supported many events to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.
Also affected by the temperatures was the president’s Great American State Fair on the National Mall. This attraction was temporarily closed on Friday following reports that 44 visitors were treated for heat-related illnesses.
The capital’s NBC affiliate reported that 11 people were transported to hospital and seven of the cases were considered “serious.”
Freedom 250, the organizer of the fair, said that otherwise the opening of the event on Saturday, where participation was low and the Ferris wheel was broken, would be postponed.
“With warm temperatures expected, guests are encouraged to stay hydrated, wear light clothing, apply sunscreen, take breaks in the shade, utilize cooling areas, and be mindful of family and friends,” the organizing committee wrote in a social media post Friday.
Trump is expected to take the stage at the fair on Saturday evening and give a long speech. His remarks would follow a busy schedule of military flights over the National Mall and set off a record-breaking fireworks display late in the evening.
Trump also spoke in front of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on Friday, verbally taking aim at the “communist threat” in the United States.
