A dangerous heat wave that has lasted for several days continued to intensify across the eastern US, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting “extremely high” rates of heat-related emergency room visits in parts of the country. The heat wave shattered temperature records, led to more emergency room visits, and created serious risks for millions of people preparing to spend the Fourth of July outdoors.
Record-Breaking Temperatures
More than a dozen places in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast either matched or broke their record high temperatures for Friday, including Washington, DC. The city reached 39C (102F), exceeding the previous record of 38C (101F) set in 1872. By Saturday, the worst of the heat is expected to move slightly south, though Washington, DC, is still forecast to reach 39C (102F). That would make it the hottest Fourth of July ever recorded in the city. Philadelphia and New York City are also expected to approach 38C (100F), with heat index values near 41C (105F).
Heat-Related Health Impacts
The CDC reported “extremely high” rates of heat-related emergency room visits, indicating the severe health risks posed by the prolonged heat wave. The combination of extreme heat and humidity this week would have been “virtually impossible” without the influence of fossil fuel pollution, according to a World Weather Attribution analysis.
Event Cancellations and Power Outages
Several holiday events were canceled or postponed because of the extreme heat. Washington, DC, canceled its Fourth of July parade planned for Saturday morning, while President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair delayed its opening by two hours, moving it to noon. “Despite the heat, which isn’t as bad as predicted, the crowds in D.C. are INCREDIBLE! The love of our Country has never been stronger! The Air Shows are at a level never seen before - What great pilots, what great equipment!!!” Trump said on Truth Social. “The Reflecting Pool looks great, despite all it went through with the Vandal Thugs. Will quickly drain and fix the damage done right after this big weekend. Happy Independence Day. Our Country is Stronger than EVER,” he added.
Philadelphia also called off its Friday Independence Day parade, which had been expected to be among the largest in the country over the holiday weekend, with participants from all 50 states.
Power Grid Strain
In the New York metro area, thousands of Con Edison customers lost power on Friday. The utility company said some outages were intentional shutdowns meant to prevent longer-lasting disruptions. Earlier in the day, voltage reductions were also reported in parts of Staten Island, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Westchester, according to Con Edison spokesperson Jamie McShane.
