Over 842,000 US households lose power as extreme heat disrupts Independence Day celebrations

04/07/2026

NEW YORK, Jul 4: More than 842,000 households across the United States were without electricity on Saturday as extreme heat and severe weather disrupted Independence Day celebrations and strained infrastructure.

According to PowerOutage.us, widespread outages affected parts of the Midwest and Northeast, where soaring temperatures also forced changes to Fourth of July events.

In Washington, DC, a planned morning parade marking the nation's 250th Independence Day was canceled due to the heat, while the Great American State Fair was temporarily closed after numerous attendees were treated for heat-related illnesses.

Amtrak also canceled several train services, citing temperature-related conditions that affected rail operations. The rail operator said multiple routes were suspended and apologized for the disruption.

The US National Weather Service said more than 165 million people, particularly along the East Coast and in the Midwest, were affected by record-breaking temperatures on Friday. Several cities in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware recorded temperatures of up to 39.5°C, setting new heat records.