Severe Storms Cut Power to 800,000 as 140 Million Americans Remain Under Heat Alerts
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 5
Severe Storms Cut Power to 800,000 as 140 Million Americans Remain Under Heat Alerts
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jul 5
Summary
Nearly 779,000 customers lost power across the Midwest and Northeast as severe storms and extreme heat disrupted July Fourth celebrations nationwide.
More than 75 million people faced severe-storm threats Saturday, with damaging winds the main hazard from the Plains to the Northeast and a level 3 of 5 risk covering Washington, Baltimore, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Washington, D.C., evacuated the National Mall ahead of President Donald Trump's speech because of lightning, then resumed the event after a delay; the city also logged a record 102°F, its hottest July 4, and treated 51 heat-related cases.
Heat already had canceled parades in Washington and Philadelphia, delayed National Mall events and forced Amtrak to scrap multiple trains, while flash-flood risks lingered for parts of the mid-Atlantic into Sunday.
More widespread relief is expected Sunday across much of the Northeast, with highs easing to the upper 80s in New York City and the mid-70s in Boston.