As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary on the Fourth of July, extreme heat is expected to disrupt festivities from Washington to Los Angeles. The heatwave poses challenges for planned events and celebrations across the country, potentially affecting attendance and safety measures.

The annual July 4 parade in Washington has been canceled due to extreme heat, which organizers deemed a significant risk for participants and spectators. The National Park Service made the announcement shortly before the parade was set to start at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, coinciding with the celebration of America's 250th Independence Day.

More than 165 million people in the US were experiencing extreme heat on Friday, with record temperatures affecting the East Coast and Midwest, according to the US National Weather Service.

Millions in France are experiencing extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in places like Rennes. The national weather service, Meteo France, has issued a red heat wave alert for 54 departments, indicating exceptionally high temperatures that are expected to persist. This situation poses challenges, especially in a country where air-conditioning is not widespread, affecting daily life and schools.

France is preparing for another day of extreme heat as a heatwave is anticipated to spread across western Europe on Wednesday, with projections indicating it will extend eastwards over the weekend, according to BBC World.

A severe heatwave is affecting Europe, leading to the issuance of the highest-level red heat warnings in both Britain and France. The extreme temperatures are causing significant concern across the continent, as the heat continues to intensify.