Deadly storms and a heat wave marred America's 250th birthday for swathes of the United States, leaving hundreds of thousands of utility customers without power.
Millions of Americans across the Northeast experienced record-setting temperatures — thunderstorms in the Midwest downed trees, ruptured power lines and made transportation treacherous and complicated across multiple states.
In Washington, D.C., thunderstorms forced the temporary evacuation of thousands of people from the National Mall, which is hosting the Freedom 250 Fourth of July celebrations that includes an address from President Trump and a massive fireworks show. It was unclear if the schedule of events would be significantly delayed.
Storms trigger power outages amid intense heat wave
A vicious storm struck the New York area late Friday, leaving hundreds of thousands of utility customers without power in the middle of a heat wave. The mercury hit a sweltering 98 degrees in Central Park Friday, CBS New York reported.
Atlantic City, New Jersey, set its highest temperature for July at 105 degrees, the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center said Saturday.
A person shields themselves from the sun at Pier 57 during a heat wave ahead of the International Parade of Sail, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York.
AP Photo/Sydney Schaefer
The high heat in the region helped fuel storms that produced wind gusts of up to 70 mph in places like Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Trains to New Jersey were canceled or delayed, and hundreds of trees were damaged or uprooted.
Combined with the Midwest storms, nearly 1 million residents were left powerless. By noon Saturday, about 750,000 utility customers were powerless in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and New Jersey.
Hundreds of crew members from 12 states and Canada were on their way to Michigan on Saturday afternoon to help expedite restoration, CBS Detroit reported.
Severe weather forces some cities to cancel fireworks
The storms that rolled through the Midwest and Northeast on Friday led multiple cities to cancel holiday festivals and reschedule fireworks displays.
Mayor Frank Velez in Belleville, New Jersey, rescheduled them for next year, telling residents: "While we're disappointed we couldn't celebrate together tonight, your safety will always come first."
Annapolis, Maryland, home of the U.S. Naval Academy, saw its July Fourth celebrations altered by the weather. The city announced its parade as well as a performance by the Naval Academy Electric Brigade band were canceled due to expected thunderstorms in addition to the extreme heat.
Philadelphia's Salute to Independence Parade on Friday was canceled due to extreme heat. The city later said the One Philly Unity Concert was "stopped until further notice due to impending severe storms."
Weather also forced temporary evacuations of thousands of people Saturday evening at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., which is hosting the Freedom 250 Fourth of July celebrations.
"A severe thunderstorm is occurring near the National Mall," D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management said. "Seek shelter immediately. Do not wait. Follow instructions from event staff and public safety officials on site."
Organizers of the Freedom 250 celebrations in Washington, D.C., issued a statement on Saturday saying they are "actively monitoring weather conditions," but festivities were expected to continue late Saturday night after temporary delays.However, D.C.'s America's Independence Day Parade, slated for Saturday morning, was canceled due to extreme heat.
The president had been initially scheduled to deliver remarks at 9:45 p.m. Eastern Time, but was expected to be delayed until 11 p.m., Freedom 250 organizers said.
"Storms bring luck to whatever the occasion. They also make events a little bit more exciting! We will wait it out, I don't care if it's 2:00 O'Clock in the morning, or in one hour from now. Looks like it is going to pass, they always do," Mr. Trump said on social media Saturday night. "I will be there no matter what, but the 'what' usually turns out to be a good thing."
Earlier, a 79-year-old woman experienced a heat-related emergency at the "Salute to America 250 Celebration & Fireworks" and was transported to a local hospital, according to the National Special Security Event Joint Information Center.
A person is helped by first responders as people cope with extreme heat along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on July 3, 2026, as high temperatures grip the US capital ahead of Independence Day celebrations.
Amid FARAHI /AFP via Getty Images
On Friday, D.C. Fire & EMS said there were 45 patient contacts and 16 patient transports at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, which temporarily closed due to extreme temperatures, but it was unclear how many calls were heat-related.
Washington also set a record for its all-time warmest low temperature at 84 degrees, the weather service said.By noon on July Fourth, temperatures there and across parts of the Northeast were already soaring back toward triple digits.
"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!" Mr. Trump said earlier Saturday in another social media post.
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