US marks 250th birthday with fireworks, flyovers and extreme weather

Americans marked the nation's 250th birthday with a mix of patriotic celebrations and disruptions from severe weather. Fireworks displays lit up the sky, including a grand finale in Washington D.C. that concluded around 1 a.m. in a light rain. A flyover featuring the new Air Force One jet was part of the festivities.

However, the celebrations were significantly impacted by a severe thunderstorm that forced an evacuation of the National Mall earlier in the evening. The capital had also broiled under 100F (37C) temperatures as part of a larger heat wave affecting the eastern U.S. This extreme weather led to widespread power outages, with nearly 750,000 people losing electricity across the East Coast, and an additional 150,000 in New Jersey. In Michigan, winds over 60mph caused over 350,000 homes to lose power.

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Long live the cause of independence. May it rain forever and ever and ever, we will always be on top, we will never let our country fall, we will always be the best.

Amidst the official celebrations, about 400 members of the white nationalist group Patriot Front marched through the streets of the capital, carrying U.S. flags. The group, founded in 2017, was seen marching near the Capitol building and Union Station.

Several other planned events across the country were also affected. Organizers of the National Park Service's Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C. canceled the annual event due to safety concerns. Some celebrations were also shut down in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and even as far west as Colorado. Volunteers handed out water bottles on the National Mall as sunshine gave way to thunderstorms, highlighting the challenges faced by attendees trying to stay cool and safe during the sweltering conditions.

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this is only the dawn of the golden age of America