Record temperatures sweeping across the United States have brought the first consequences, leading to the temporary closure of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, DC. This has interrupted one of the main activities of the Fourth of July celebrations.
According to the US National Weather Service, more than 165 million people are under extreme heat warnings on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Fair organizers said the decision was made to protect visitors, volunteers, performers and staff, while the event is expected to resume in the evening, when temperatures drop.
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The National Weather Service stressed that current conditions pose a high health risk and urged citizens to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, drink fluids and limit physical activity during the hottest hours of the day.
Meteorologists warn that this heat wave will continue throughout the weekend, while in some areas temperatures are reaching the highest levels seen in recent decades.
In Philadelphia and Washington, temperatures of around 41 degrees Celsius are expected, while some cities could record several consecutive days with temperatures above 38 degrees.
Because of the weather conditions, some traditional Fourth of July activities have been postponed or shortened. In Washington, authorities delayed public entry for the “A Capitol Fourth” concert, while access to the National Mall for the fireworks display was moved to the afternoon hours. The fireworks show itself will also begin later than usual.
The “America 250” commission, which is tasked with organizing celebrations for the 250th anniversary of US independence, announced that it is closely monitoring weather conditions, but for now events in cities such as Boston, Philadelphia and New York are expected to proceed as planned.
President Donald Trump is expected to take part in Fourth of July events and deliver an outdoor speech, despite the high temperatures forecast for the weekend.
