Severe heatwave forces changes to US Independence Day celebrations

A dangerous heatwave forced organisers to cancel or shorten Independence Day events across the United States on 4 July 2026, as the country celebrated its 250th anniversary. A heat dome pushed temperatures to around 107°F in some cities, and New York City hit 100°F for the first time in over a decade. Philadelphia declared a Code Red alert and cut its parade short. The Capitol Fourth concert in Washington DC moved from the afternoon to early evening because of the heat. World Cup matches in Philadelphia and Miami also faced difficult conditions due to high humidity. Climate scientists said extreme heat like this would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change. The Freedom 250 rodeo was postponed entirely.