Extreme heat bears down as US prepares to mark 250th anniversary of independence

Festivities marking the 250th anniversary of American independence are ramping up across the US.

President Donald Trump will travel to South Dakota to deliver a speech and watch fireworks at Mount Rushmore.

And in a novel twist, there will be a ball drop in New York City’s Times Square at midnight to usher in the July Fourth holiday with much the same revelry that is typically reserved for New Year’s Eve.

The activity culminates in the main event on Saturday, when fireworks will erupt in communities across the US. Mr Trump will deliver another speech at the National Mall in Washington before what is being billed as a historically massive fireworks show.

But for all the celebrations, there are also serious safety considerations as potentially record heat grips much of the Midwest and East Coast. Officials have warned those celebrating the holiday to stay hydrated and take air-conditioned breaks as needed.

The heat has already affected some of the programming surrounding the holiday. In Washington, organisers of the Capitol Fourth concert banned the public from attending a Thursday rehearsal because of the heat.

The concert on Friday, a staple of Washington’s Independence Day traditions, may ultimately be cancelled. Organisers of celebrations in Washington on Saturday said they were adding water stations along with cooling resources and medical support.

The holiday is unfolding at a unique time in the US. The anniversary has served as an opportunity for the country to reflect on its history while also reminding it of the political polarisation of the moment.

Even the celebrations themselves have not quite escaped the divide.

Freedom 250, an organisation aligned with the White House, has come to rival America250, a bipartisan group founded by Congress a decade ago.

Freedom 250 has organised much of the activity in Washington, including the Great American State Fair, which has gained attention for the relatively small crowds it has attracted.

America250 is behind the ball drops unfolding in many cities, including New York, and will host a concert in Los Angeles on Saturday.

About four in 10 US adults feel “proud” about the country’s 250th anniversary, according to an April survey from the Associated Press-Norc Centre for Public Affairs Research. Roughly three in 10 said “excited” describes their emotions.