Philadelphia 'Salute to Independence' parade cancelled Friday as blistering temperatures slam the city

As Americans around the nation celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary this week, a parade that had been slated to take place in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday was called off due to scorching temperatures expected in the city.

Welcome America Inc. noted the cancellation in a post on X, which the city of Philadelphia reposted.

"Due to the extreme heat, the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade is cancelled," the post noted.

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The X account for the National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly noted in a Friday morning post, "If Philadelphia Int'l Airport reaches our forecast high of 104° today, it will be the hottest temp recorded there since July 3, 1966."

City Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson extended an ongoing "Heat Health Emergency" through 8 p.m. Sunday, according to the city's Department of Public Health.

The parade had been slated to include floats and marching bands, according to an event description.

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Welcome America Inc. President and CEO Michael DelBene noted that the organization's first duty is people's safety.

"As much as this decision pains everyone inside our organization, we simply cannot host an event of this size and scale under these dangerous heat conditions. Todd Marcocci and Under the Sun Productions, along with all the parade groups, have been working tirelessly to design something truly historic, and having to cancel it at the last minute is heartbreaking for all of us," DelBene noted in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.

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"While large-scale celebrations and community events may be our mission, our first responsibility will always be to the safety and security of our staff, our guests, and our event participants," he added.