A brutal heat wave threatened July 4 celebrations, World Cup matches and power grids across the eastern United States on Friday as near-record temperatures blanketed the region.
About 160 million Americans were under major or extreme heat warnings as the nation prepared to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence, according to the National Weather Service.
Extreme temperatures forced organizers to postpone part of the Independence Day festivities on the National Mall, the sprawling park that stretches from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument.
The heat also took an early toll on revelers. A young woman who appeared to be suffering from heat exhaustion was treated by paramedics and evacuated from the Great American State Fair on the National Mall.
"It's like the 30th person," said an event staffer. "They might have to shut this event down."
