Heat Wave Closes Great American State Fair on Washington’s National Mall, Cancels Philadelphia Parade

A blistering heat wave gripping Washington prompted the Great American State Fair on the National Mall to close for hours Friday afternoon, with Freedom 250 announcing it would temporarily close until 5 p.m. due to heat.

“A potentially historic and began Tuesday in Philadelphia, and as we end the week, high temperatures are soaring into the triple digits”

CBS News

The Washington Post reported that the fair’s closure came as the region saw delays and cancellations at other celebrations tied to America’s 250th birthday.

CBS News

In Philadelphia, WHYY said extreme heat forced the cancellation of the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade earlier Friday, even as visitors crowded near Independence National Historical Park, the Independence Visitor Center, President’s House site and Liberty Bell Center.

WHYY quoted Michael DelBene, president and CEO of Welcome America, saying, "It just became too dangerous," and added that organizers could not guarantee guests’ safety.

The National Weather Service forecast dangerously hot heat index values as high as 115 degrees, while a Heat Health Emergency and Code Red were also in effect in Philadelphia.

In Berks County, Pennsylvania, UPI reported that authorities declared a mass casualty incident when more than 100 people waiting to see a train were treated for heat-related symptoms.

UPI said the Reading & Blue Mountain Railroad Outer Station in Muhlenberg Township saw the train’s arrival delayed for more than an hour as local temperatures climbed to 106 degrees.

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UPI added that Berks County 911 started to receive 911 calls about 1:30 p.m., and that ambulances and firefighters from surrounding counties were summoned to assist.

The Guardian described the broader disruption as a heat dome bringing hot and humid conditions across the central and eastern United States, with events at the Great American State Fair postponed until 5pm and people ushered to the exits.

The Guardian also quoted Theodore Keeping, extreme weather and wildfire researcher at Imperial College London, saying, "The climate the country has today is fundamentally different".

NBC News said a record-setting heat wave blanketing much of the U.S. prompted the cancellation of events marking America’s 250th birthday, with more than 110 million people under extreme heat risk and more than 150 million under heat alerts stretching from Kansas to Maine.

“A record-setting heat wave is blanketing much of the U”

NBC News

NBC News reported that Philadelphia canceled its Wawa Welcome America parade and Washington’s Great American State Fair temporarily closed Friday afternoon, while other celebrations delayed public entry to reduce exposure during the hottest hours.

NBC News also said New Jersey Transit warned Friday morning that rail service was subject to delays of up to 30 minutes and select train cancellations due to the effects of extreme heat on equipment.

In the same period, Amtrak warned that trains operating along the Northeast Corridor may run at reduced speeds between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. through Saturday because of the heat.

The Guardian framed the stakes for both Independence Day and sport by saying France’s match against Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday was expected to see levels of extreme heat that a global players’ union has previously said should trigger delay or postponement of games.