Will holiday heat wave ruin America 250 celebrations in Washington DC?
Just in time for America 250 celebrations and what President Donald Trump promised will be the "largest fireworks show in history," a major heat wave is coming to Washington DC.
The timing means visitors celebrating the nation's 250th birthday could be doing so under dangerously hot conditions.
Here's what forecasters are saying about next week's heat wave.
How hot will it be in Washington DC during 4th of July week?
As temperatures reach the 90s by the start of the week, they are expected to rise to 100 degrees by Wednesday, according to Accuweather.
That will give way to three straight days where the highs are expected to be in triple digits, including on Thursday, July 2, when the high could reach 104 degrees. Accuweather's RealFeel forecast, which accounts for humidity, sunshine and other factors, peaks at 111 degrees Thursday.
It's the result of an east coast "heat dome," according to FOX 5, which says the system will bring a "prolonged stretch of intense, above-normal temperatures" to the region. It describes a heat dome as a "powerful area of high pressure" that acts as a lid on the atmosphere.
"This trapped air creates consecutive days of baking, stagnant weather with limited cloud cover," FOX 5 says. "For those stuck directly under the center of the high, it also means very low chances of cooling rain or thunderstorms."
It's still more than a week away, but the 4th of July forecast shows a high of 95 degrees with thunderstorms possible, according to Accuweather. The RealFeel could reach 102 degrees on the holiday.
What heat wave could mean for America 250 celebrations in DC
The Great American State Fair, which began Wednesday on the National Mall with a kickoff celebration headlined by Trump, is listed as a rain-or-shine event. Freedom 250 does not list anything about heat-related plans or precautions but says "guests should plan accordingly for changing weather conditions."
Combined with the high humidity the region will also see, heat indices in the region could reach as high as 115 degrees during the week, according to the National Weather Service.
"High or moderate extreme heat risks cover much of the central and eastern U.S. July 3-4, with a broader slight risk extending through July 6," NWS says.
Freedom 250 organizers encourage residents to visit alert.dc.gov to receive real-time weather updates. Although July 4th festivities likely wouldn't be canceled for the heat wave, organizers say people should "bring water, take shade breaks and know the signs of heat exhaustion."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will holiday heat wave ruin America 250 celebrations in Washington DC?
Reporting by Mike Stunson, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 11:40 AM.