A dangerous heat wave in the eastern United States persisted on Friday, setting record-breaking temperatures and leading to a surge in heat-related emergency room visits as well as disruptions to Fourth of July celebrations.
Multiple locations in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast experienced record-breaking or daily temperature highs, with Washington, DC hitting 102F, surpassing a record that stood since 1872.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported "extremely high rates of heat-related illness" in parts of the Northeast on Thursday.
The heatwave is anticipated to persist on Saturday, with Washington projected to reach 102F again, potentially marking its 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, as a 68-year-old man in Pennsylvania passed away after working outdoors, with the Berks County Coroner's Office attributing the cause to a heart attack induced by heat exhaustion.
The extreme weather necessitated alterations to holiday events, with Washington's Fourth of July parade canceled due to the heat, and President Donald Trump's Great American State Fair delaying its opening by two hours.
Philadelphia also called off its Independence Day parade, which was anticipated to be one of the largest in the country.
