WASHINGTON — A dangerous heat wave and severe thunderstorms disrupted Independence Day celebrations across large parts of the United States, forcing cancellations, delays and evacuations during the nation's 250th anniversary weekend as millions remained under heat alerts and hundreds of thousands of utility customers lost power.
Weather-related disruptions stretched from the Midwest to the Northeast, where the National Weather Service warned of extreme heat, damaging winds and dangerous lightning. Utility outages mounted after powerful thunderstorms toppled trees and damaged power lines in several states, while emergency officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity.
In Washington, D.C., severe thunderstorms prompted authorities to temporarily evacuate thousands of people from the National Mall on Saturday evening, interrupting the "Salute to America" celebration before President Donald Trump's scheduled address and fireworks display. The city's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency instructed attendees to seek shelter immediately as lightning and strong winds approached. Federal buildings and museums opened to accommodate people leaving the Mall.
The evacuation followed days of exceptional heat that had already disrupted anniversary events in the nation's capital. Organizers canceled the National Independence Day Parade and modified schedules for other outdoor activities after temperatures climbed above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and heat index values exceeded 110 degrees in some locations. Cooling stations, misting tents and additional medical personnel were deployed for remaining events.
Elsewhere, severe thunderstorms swept across parts of the Northeast, leaving more than 50,000 customers without electricity in Connecticut by Saturday night, according to local officials and utilities. Emergency crews responded to downed trees, power outages and water rescues as the National Weather Service warned that some storms could produce wind gusts of up to 80 mph.
Forecasters said more than 75 million people faced a risk of severe thunderstorms during the holiday, while dangerous heat persisted across much of the eastern United States. Officials in multiple states advised residents to remain hydrated, limit outdoor exposure and monitor vulnerable family members and neighbors for signs of heat-related illness.
Despite the weather disruptions, organizers reopened the National Mall later Saturday after conditions improved, allowing the delayed presidential address and fireworks display to proceed under heightened safety measures. Weather officials said the combination of extreme heat and unstable atmospheric conditions would continue to pose hazards in parts of the eastern United States into the holiday weekend.
