Record Heat Wave Hits US East Coast This Fourth of July, CDC Warns Public

Dangerous Heat Wave Grips Eastern US

On Friday, a dangerous heat wave continued to grip the eastern United States, bringing record-breaking temperatures and prompting cancellations of Fourth of July celebrations.

According to CNN, more than a dozen locations across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast broke or tied daily temperature records on Thursday. Washington, DC, saw the mercury reach 102F, surpassing a record set in 1872.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported “extremely high rates of heat-related illness” across parts of the Northeast on Thursday.

Intense heat is expected to continue into Saturday, with Washington forecast to again hit 102F, potentially making it the city’s hottest Fourth of July on record. New York City and Philadelphia are also expected to approach 100F, with heat index values near 105F.

At least one heat-related death was confirmed in Pennsylvania, where a 68-year-old man died after working outdoors due to strain from “heat exhaustion,” according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.

The extreme weather has forced changes to holiday events. The Fourth of July parade in Washington was cancelled, while President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair delayed its opening by two hours. Philadelphia also cancelled its Independence Day parade.