Governors issue warnings over outdoor July Fourth celebrations

On July 4, millions of Americans planned to celebrate Independence Day outside — but a powerful heat dome made that dangerous this year. Governors and mayors across the country warned people about extreme heat expected to hit many states. Temperatures were forecast to reach 100 degrees or higher from North Carolina all the way up to New Jersey, with heat index values making it feel even hotter. Officials urged everyone to stay cool, drink water, and limit time in the sun.

Several governors posted warnings on social media ahead of the holiday. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill told residents to limit their time outdoors, especially during the hottest parts of the day, and to drink plenty of water. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger urged Virginians to stay safe so first responders and health care workers could enjoy the holiday too. She reminded people to take precautions before they ended up needing medical help.

Washington, D.C., felt some of the worst heat of all. The city's annual Independence Day Parade was canceled because of the dangerous temperatures. Mayor Muriel Bowser warned that with temps over 100 degrees, people needed to drink water, find shade, and stay out of the sun as much as possible. Parts of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., faced heat index values between 110 and 115 degrees — meaning it felt that hot when humidity was factored in.

Washington, D.C., also came close to breaking an all-time temperature record. The city's record high of 100 degrees was set on July 4, 1919. This year, forecasters predicted it could reach 101 degrees, which would break that long-standing record. President Donald Trump was still planning to give a speech in the city on Saturday night despite the dangerous heat.

The National Weather Service issued extreme heat warnings across a huge part of the country. These warnings stretched from the Northeast down to the South and parts of the Midwest, including north Texas. Heat index temperatures — which show how hot it actually feels when humidity is included — ranged from 105 to 115 degrees in many areas. New Jersey and parts of New York, including Manhattan, were expected to feel heat indexes between 105 and 110 degrees.

Some of the hottest cities on July 4 were Richmond, Virginia, with a heat index of 115 degrees, and Washington, D.C., Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, and Tallahassee, Florida, all around 110 degrees. Memphis, Tennessee, was forecast to feel like 109 degrees. People who wanted to check the heat index for their own area were encouraged to look it up at Heat.gov using their zip code.

Officials especially worried about young children, babies, elderly people, pregnant women, and people with health conditions. These groups have a harder time handling extreme heat and are more likely to get sick from it. The National Weather Service warned that children's bodies are less able to adjust to heat than adults. People were also told never to leave children or pets alone inside a parked car, where temperatures can rise very quickly.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein suggested that residents stay hydrated, wear light and loose-fitting clothes, and take breaks in the shade or air conditioning. Other tips included drinking plenty of fluids, staying out of direct sunlight, and checking on neighbors and relatives — especially older ones who might need help staying cool. People were advised to avoid heavy exercise during the hottest parts of the day and to save strenuous activities for the early morning or evening.

Cooling centers were opened in several cities for people who didn't have air conditioning at home. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani told residents they could go to a cooling center during the dangerous heat wave. Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management also shared information about cooling centers across the city. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul reminded residents to set their air conditioners between 75 and 78 degrees and avoid using unnecessary appliances to help keep the state's electric grid from being overloaded.