Heat wave forecast: Great American State Fair postponed amid extreme temps
The heat index is forecast to hit a scorching 113 degrees in D.C. on Friday.
A dangerous heat wave is bringing prolonged extreme heat to more than two dozen states across the Midwest, the South and the East Coast into the Fourth of July weekend.
Although the holiday travel rush is in full effect, the heat led Amtrak to cancel more than two dozen trains in the Northeast.
In Washington, D.C., the Great American State Fair abruptly closed mid-day Friday due to the dangerous temperatures, organizers said.
The heat index -- what temperature it feels like with humidity -- is forecast to reach a scorching 113 degrees in D.C. on Friday.
Organizers said the fair will reopen at 5 p.m.
The heat wave began on Monday in the Midwest and later spread east.
On Thursday, the heat index reached 110 degrees in Philadelphia and 111 in Washington, D.C.
New York City's heat index reached 106 degrees on Thursday. The actual temperature in Central Park hit 100 degrees, marking the first triple-digit day there since 2012.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul are urging New Yorkers to conserve power "due to the increase in energy demand and unexpected load challenges."
"Proactively conserve electricity if safe to do so by setting air conditioning units between 75 - 78 degrees and avoiding unnecessary appliance use," Hochul said.
"I thank New Yorkers for taking these steps to reduce their usage and helping us keep the power on and protect the most vulnerable in our community," she said.
On Friday, the heat wave continues for the Northeast.
The heat index is forecast to climb to 104 degrees in Boston, 109 degrees in New York and 111 in Philadelphia.
This heat wave provides minimal relief overnight, which makes it even more dangerous.
On the Fourth of July on Saturday, the Northeast will still feel like the triple digits, with the heat index expected to reach 102 degrees in New York and 108 in D.C.
By Sunday and Monday, the heat and humidity will settle over the Southeast. Raleigh, North Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, are expected to feel like 107 degrees on Sunday.
Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S. At least 13,000 Americans have died from the heat since 2018, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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