Dangerous US heat wave casts shadow over America’s 250th birthday; fans miss Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce wedding in the middle of 41C | Today’s news
On Friday, July 3rd (local time), the heat index (apparent temperature when humidity is taken into account) in New York City reached 105°F (41°C) by mid-afternoon, short of the 115°F predicted by forecasters.
A punishing heat wave threatened America’s Fourth of July celebrations and World Cup games, robbing Swifties of the joy of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden.
Power grids were also at risk as near-record temperatures scorched the eastern United States on Friday.
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The heat wave led to major or extreme warnings for about 160 million Americans, causing the postponement of America’s 250th birthday celebrations and the cancellation of the Independence Day parade.
The extreme heat affected fan attendance, with only a handful of fans present outside Madison Square Garden as reporters greatly outnumbered them in temperatures reaching 97°F.
The high temperatures led to increased use of air conditioners, which put a strain on power grids, resulting in power outages affecting tens of thousands of residents.
On July 3, 2026, the New York City heat index reached 105 °F (41 °C), short of the 115 °F predicted.
After the ceremony, giant screens outside Madison Square Garden flashed the message ‘JUST&T WANTED!’ to celebrate the couple’s wedding.
According to AFP, about 160 million Americans were under a major or extreme heat warning as the country prepared to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence, the National Weather Service said.
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Journalists outnumber fans at New York wedding venue
According to a report from Business Insider, the Manhattan wedding venue of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce was outnumbered by reporters as fans reached 97°F in the afternoon.
The report said that only a few fans, known as Swifties, had gathered outside Madison Square. While several dozen hung out on Seventh Avenue around 4:30 p.m., mostly waving.
However, the crowd at the venue was made up mostly of journalists waiting for an opportunity to interview or observe the celebrity and a sea of policemen who closed the streets around the famous arena.
NYPD officers stand guard behind police barriers on a street closed to traffic near Madison Square Garden (Getty Images via AFP)
Emma Rasco, a 19-year-old intern, told Business Insider that she expected to see more of her fellow Swifties. “I’m not sure where they are yet,” she said. “Even when I don’t have much energy, I’m here to support my girl through thick and thin, behind closed doors or outside.”
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America’s 250th birthday
America’s 250th birthday celebrations on the National Mall, the sprawling lawn stretching from Congress to the Washington Monument, were partially postponed Friday afternoon because of the heat.
AFP said the young woman was suffering from heat exhaustion and was evacuated by rescuers. “It’s like the 30th person,” said an event employee
Less than 90 minutes after the incident, organizers called off the event due to the heat. Washington’s annual Independence Day parade scheduled for Saturday morning was also canceled “due to extreme heat,” organizers said.
People asked to leave the National Mall during a temporary closure due to high temperatures at The Great American State Fair, part of the celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States in Washington.(REUTERS)
Across the country, “numerous daily temperature records are expected for Independence Day, with some consecutive daily, monthly and all-time records possible,” the National Weather Service said.
Around noon, the line to enter Washington’s Fourth of July celebration fair appeared to be more than 400 feet (120 m) long as temperatures soared to a forecast high of 102 F, AFP reported.
About an hour later, the public address system said, “Attention fairgoers, the event has been postponed. We reopen at 5:00 p.m….Please proceed to the nearest exit.”
Read also | Brutal US heat dome threatens July 4, World Cup weekend; 100°F in NYC
Stressed electrical networks
A daily temperature record in the US capital was likely broken when a nearby airport hit 102F, surpassing the previous record set on July 3, 1966, when the mercury reached 101F, preliminary data showed.
The intense heat and associated use of air conditioning reportedly strained power grids across the country.
New York utility provider Con Edison said its crews had restored power to about 60,000 residents after outages caused by the heat wave.
More than 22,000 people were without power in New York City and some suburbs as of 4:30 pm (2:00 + IST) on Friday.
PJM, the company that coordinates several networks on the East Coast and parts of the Midwest that serve 67 million customers, said data centers were prepared to switch to emergency backup power on Thursday to relieve the network, among other things. While that call has not been made, the company said it was an option on the table on Friday.
