Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Jul 4: The Independence Day Parade in Washington, DC, scheduled to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence, has been cancelled due to extreme heat, organisers announced.

The decision came after the US National Weather Service issued an Extreme Heat Warning for the US capital, forecasting heat index values between 110 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

The parade was scheduled to begin at 10.30 am Eastern Time on Saturday.

In a statement issued late Friday, organisers said the decision was taken after carefully assessing public safety concerns.

"This decision was made after extensive and careful consideration of the safety of our participants, spectators and staff as the top priority," the statement said.

The cancellation comes as a severe heat dome continues to affect large parts of the eastern United States, bringing dangerously high temperatures across several states.

According to the US Weather Prediction Center, more than 197 million people, stretching from Kansas to Maine, were under extreme heat warnings or heat advisories on Friday.

The prolonged heat wave has pushed temperatures into triple digits in several American cities, prompting authorities to issue health advisories and caution residents against prolonged outdoor exposure.