Extreme heat on Independence Day will be America's new normal, experts say
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By Ava Berger

Monday, July 6, 2026 • 7:24 PM EDT

When Thomas Jefferson measured the temperature on July 4, 1776, the high was 76 degrees Fahrenheit in Philadelphia. Two hundred and fifty years later, millions of people across the eastern half of the U.S. were under extreme heat warnings as they celebrated that anniversary.

The heat dome that settled over the Midwest and Atlantic coast then gave way to multiple rounds of severe storms and flash flooding, according to the National Weather Service .

This extreme weather did not come as a surprise , and many cities across the country were prepared: Independence Day parades in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., were canceled, while Boston did not open access to its annual fireworks event until 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, dozens of heat-related deaths were reported across the country and emergency rooms saw high numbers of people suffering from heat-related illnesses.

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