Heat wave weather pushed the U.S. Department of Energy to issue emergency orders this week to bring additional power plants online in the Mid-Atlantic. The action came as more than 160 million people were already under Heat Alerts and cities from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore tightened their response plans.
Muriel Bowser on Tuesday
Mayor Muriel Bowser told residents on Tuesday to begin limiting time outdoors as Washington, D.C. faced an Extreme Heat Alert through Sunday morning. City leaders said the district could see four consecutive days of 100-degree temperatures, a stretch that complicates travel, work schedules and holiday plans across the city.
Mid-Atlantic power orders
The Department of Energy moved this week to add generation in the Mid-Atlantic before demand rose further in the heat. The orders were issued as temperatures built across the eastern United States during the July 4 holiday weekend, a period when grids and transportation systems were already under pressure from heavy movement and outdoor events.
Amtrak canceled several trains on Thursday morning across the Northeast corridor and Virginia branches as holiday travel got underway and temperatures approached triple digits. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority also treated over 6,000 feet of rail track with reflective white paint to reduce the risk of vulnerable segments warping in the heat.
Baltimore and the National Mall
Baltimore declared an Extreme Heat Alert through Sunday and extended hours for city pools while opening community cooling centers. Washington, D.C. also kept its own alert in place through Sunday morning, while The Great American State Fair remained scheduled for the National Mall through July 10.
Pop-up thunderstorms may add another disruption to the holiday weekend, on top of the heat that has already forced cities to extend cooling measures and alter celebrations. For residents, the immediate move is simple: follow local heat guidance, cut outdoor time, and expect transportation and event schedules to keep shifting as the weekend unfolds.
