The Fourth of July looked a little different this year in many American cities, as dangerous heat forced organizers to cancel parades and push back outdoor events across the country.
At the same time, hospital emergency rooms were overwhelmed with patients suffering from heat-related illnesses, highlighting just how serious the conditions had become.
Climate experts say Americans should get used to it. Sweltering heat on Independence Day is no longer an anomaly — it is becoming the expected reality for the holiday and the summer season more broadly.
The scenes played out along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where crowds gathered despite the oppressive temperatures, with many people struggling to cope with the extreme conditions.
