An oppressive heat dome is bringing extremely hot temperatures to much of the United States on July 4 – adding a component of danger to traditional outdoor Independence Day celebrations and America 250 celebrations.
Several governors warned residents on social media ahead of temperatures expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above average across the eastern half of the U.S. “Please be cautious of extreme heat,” New Jersey Governor Mickey Sherrill posted on Twitter. “Limit your time outside – especially during the hottest times of the day – and drink plenty of water.”
Dangerously hot conditions and heat index values of 110 to 115 were forecast for parts of Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC. “The extreme heat we are experiencing in Virginia is not letting up this weekend,” Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger posted on Instagram. “Please do your part to let our first responders and health care professionals also enjoy the 4th of July. Take precautions now so you don’t have to travel to urgent care. Stay safe, stay hydrated and stay well, Virginia!”
The annual Independence Day parade in Washington, DC was canceled due to the heat. “It’s going to be a very long, busy, hot day in DC. With temperatures over 100 degrees, it’s important to be careful about drinking water, seeking shade and limiting time outside,” Mayor Muriel Bowser posted on Instagram.
How hot will it be on July 4th?
Multiple daily temperature records are expected and some locations will threaten long-term heat records, according to the National Weather Service, with temperatures forecast to top 100 from North Carolina to Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The all-time high temperature record could be broken in Washington, D.C., where President Donald Trump has promised to give a “really long speech” on Saturday night. According to AccuWeather, the current record of 100 degrees, set on July 4, 1919, may be broken as temperatures are forecast to reach 101 degrees. The NWS said the region would experience “dangerously hot conditions” on July 4.
Extreme heat warnings and heat advisories The National Weather Service’s July 4 map covers the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to the South, Midwest and North Texas. Heat index temperatures, which factor in how hot it feels along with relative humidity, will be between 105-115 degrees across much of the Mid-South, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Heat index values were expected to range from 105 to 110 in parts of New York, including New Jersey and Manhattan, while heat index values were expected to reach 107 across much of northeastern Kentucky, southeast Ohio and West Virginia. In Kansas and Missouri, heat index values as high as 104 and 105 were forecast for Kansas City and St. Louis.
Other states under extreme heat warnings include Tennessee, Indiana and Kentucky, with extreme heat warnings issued for Southern California and southwestern Arizona.
Which cities will be the hottest on July 4th?
The hottest cities for heat index on July 4 include Richmond, Virginia (115), Washington, DC (110), Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (110), Tallahassee, Florida (110), and Memphis, Tennessee (109).
Want to know the potential heat index where you live? Use the zip code search on Heat.gov.
How to Stay Safe in Hot Weather on the 4th of July
Officials warned about potential dangers from the heat. Young children and infants are especially at risk of heat-related illness and death, the NWS said, because their bodies are less adapted to heat than adults. Do not leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
The NWS said others who may be more sensitive to extreme heat include pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions and older adults, especially those with pre-existing conditions.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein cited the forecast of “dangerously high temperatures” for the state and suggested that residents should stay hydrated, wear light, loose-fitting clothing and “take breaks in the shade or in the AC,” he said in a post on Xpress.
Other ways to bear the heat:
- drink plenty of fluids
- stay away from the sun
- stay in air conditioned room
- Check on relatives and neighbors.
- Try to limit vigorous activities to the morning or evening.
New Yorkers can go to a cooling center if necessary during the “dangerous heat wave,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a post on Twitter.
The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management also warned residents about the heat and posted a link to cooling centers across the city.
Air conditioning is important for staying cool, but New York Gov. Kathy Hochul asked residents to take it easy on the state’s electric grid by setting air conditioners between 75 and 78 degrees and “avoiding unnecessary appliance use” in a post on X.
Contributing: Deena Voyles Pulver, Doyle Rice and Joel Shannon
Mike Snyder is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X, and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & (email protected).