Weather next week is forcing New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago and Washington, DC to change July 4 holiday weekend plans as dangerous heat builds across the Midwest and East Coast. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said cooling centers will begin to open Wednesday.
More than 150 million Americans are under Heat Alerts, and more than 230 million Americans could see temperatures above 90 degrees. The FOX Forecast Center said New York City could see back-to-back 100 degree days for the first time since 2011, while Philadelphia could tie its hottest temperature ever recorded at 106 degrees later this week.
Zohran Mamdani orders cooling centers
Mamdani also said New York City will use new mobile cooling vans so city workers can provide hot weather wellness checks. Additional pop-up cooling stations will offer cold water to outdoor workers, giving people a place to cool down during the hottest part of the day. For anyone working outside, the change is practical: the city is building relief into the schedule instead of waiting for people to find it on their own.
Philadelphia shifts July 4 events
Philadelphia is moving parts of the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival into cooled tents on Thursday and Friday. It is also cutting its Independence Day Parade on Friday one mile shorter because of the expected extreme heat. The holiday weekend celebrations are continuing even as cities shorten parades, move events into cooled tents, and open cooling centers because of the heat.
Olivianna Calmes was reporting live from St. Louis, Missouri, ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend as cities across much of the country adjusted plans. Washington, DC could see three consecutive days of 100-degree temperatures, adding pressure on public events and on people who still have to be outdoors.
The immediate question for residents and visitors is simple: use the cooling centers, cooled tents and pop-up stations while they are open, because the hottest stretch is landing now. How long the heat alerts and extreme temperatures last after the July 4 holiday weekend will decide how long these city plans stay in place.
