Storm, heat wave, blackouts: Americans brace for flash flooding after weather dampens July 4th celebrations | Today’s news
Fourth of July celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary were marred by deadly storms and a heat wave across large parts of the United States, leaving hundreds of thousands of utility customers without power. Meteorologists also warned that the bad weather will continue during the week.
Fourth of July celebrations are being slowed by inclement weather
CBS News reported Sunday (local time) that millions of Americans in the Northeast experienced record temperatures, while storms in the Midwest snapped trees, downed power lines and disrupted travel across several states.
Read also | 4th of July see thunderstorms? Washington cancels parade amid extreme heat
In the capital Washington, DC, thunderstorms forced thousands of people to temporarily evacuate the National Mall, where the July 4 Freedom 250 celebrations were being held, including a speech by US President Donald Trump that was delayed by more than an hour and a massive fireworks display.
Participants in the capital were asked to evacuate and seek shelter in buildings near the National Mall after organizers delayed the start of the “Salute to America” events. Freedom 250 spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said in a statement: “The safety of our guests, performers and staff is our highest priority. With severe storms approaching, Freedom 250, the United States Secret Service, the United States Park Police, the National Park Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and all public safety partners are asking all guests to seek temporary shelter in a nearby event building.”
Read also | Thousands of people were asked to evacuate the National Mall in Washington amid inclement weather
About 797,000 utility customers were without power Sunday, with most of the outages reported in Pennsylvania and Michigan, according to data from the utility tracking website PowerOutage.us.
New Jersey reported at least 25 suspected heat-related deaths, with those affected ranging in age from their mid-30s to their 80s. Both New Jersey and Atlantic City recorded July highs of 105 degrees.
Intense heat throughout the region aided in the development of severe storms that brought wind gusts of up to 70 mph to areas including Perth Amboy, New Jersey. The weather disrupted rail service to New Jersey, causing cancellations and delays, while hundreds of trees were either damaged or uprooted.
Read also | US Weather: NWS warns of 105°F heat index, poor air quality after July 4th storms
Meanwhile, hundreds of utility workers from 12 states and Canada were deployed to Michigan on the afternoon of July 4 to speed up efforts to restore power, according to CBS Detroit.
The intense weather conditions also led several cities to cancel and reschedule fireworks displays, along with canceling festival holidays.
34 million Americans under flood watch
The report said the severe weather was forecast to continue throughout the week, with flood watches for nearly 34 million residents in the northeast until late Monday.
From Monday to Tuesday, persistent heavy rainfall in the mid-Atlantic could lead to flash flooding in northeastern urban areas of the country. Some areas, such as New York City and Philadelphia, are likely to see as much as four inches of rain.
As a cold front pushes through the area, more showers and thunderstorms are expected to persist across northern parts of the country and parts of the Great Basin, with strong to severe storms forecast from the mid-Atlantic across the northern plains.
Additionally, scattered tornadoes are likely across the plains, although gusty winds and hail will be the main threat.
Forecasters continue to monitor the developing weather system as millions of people across the country remain at risk of more severe weather in the coming days.
