After a heat wave pummeled the U.S. East, forecasts now call for storms and thunderstorms, disrupting events marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
According to CNN on the 4th (local time), the "Tribute to America" event that was set to be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and the ongoing "Great American Expo" in the area were postponed until the severe weather passes.
The event was to feature a commemorative address by U.S. President Donald Trump and a large-scale fireworks display.
However, a senior White House official said the speech time could shift somewhat depending on weather conditions, but President Trump would deliver remarks as scheduled.
With strong gusts and thunderstorms forecast for late afternoon, participants were instructed to leave the venue and take shelter in nearby museums and government offices.
Freedom 250, the event organizer, explained that if storms and lightning occurred, the large crowds who had been waiting for a long time in the heat could be exposed to safety risks, prompting the move.
As rain clouds spread across the U.S. East, the fireworks event in Boston to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding was also postponed, CNN reported.