Severe thunderstorm warning issued for parts of Washington, D.C.
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the District of Columbia and surrounding areas in Maryland and Virginia on Saturday afternoon ahead of President Donald Trump’s highly anticipated speech to commemorate the United States’s 250th Independence Day.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia until 10 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/hYPvX1ehqP
Just a few hours after the announcement, Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez told all attendees to “evacuate event grounds and seek temporary shelter in a nearby building,” saying organizers will “share updates on programming and doors reopening.”
"The safety of our guests, performers, and staff is our top priority. Due to approaching severe storms, Freedom 250, United States Secret Service, United States Park Police, National Park Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and all public safety partners are asking… pic.twitter.com/6uV5EecGQA
Amid a record-setting heat wave that began earlier in the week on the East Coast, the warning was issued at 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time with a severity of “significant threat to life or property.” The warning is currently in effect until 10:00 p.m.
Temperatures throughout Friday and Saturday rose above 100 degrees Fahrenheit as visitors from across the nation descended on the nation’s capital to celebrate America 250, and several events were canceled or delayed on Saturday due to the heat.
“In addition to bringing cooler temperatures,” the NWS announcement said, “the front settling southward from the Northeast into the Mid-Atlantic will become a focus for showers and thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may become strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts possible this evening and again Sunday across portions of the Mid-Atlantic.”
The warning threatens to affect the rest of the day’s festivities, particularly Trump’s speech, which is slated to begin around 10:00 p.m.
“In addition to the wind threat, thunderstorms will also be capable of producing heavy rainfall, with an increasing threat of repeating storms and flooding as the front slows and stalls across the region later this weekend into early next week,” the NWS announcement also said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.