Heat May Cancel 'Capitol Fourth' Concert

The heat is endangering an Independence Day staple, and it's already affected the event's warm-up. The public is being shut out of Thursday night's dress rehearsal for the "A Capitol Fourth" concert on the US Capitol's West Lawn in Washington as a brutal heat wave pushes temperatures into triple digits. The PBS-televised show on Friday is slated to feature Patti LaBelle, Alan Jackson, Chicago, Kool & the Gang, the National Symphony Orchestra, and multiple military and choral ensembles, the Washington Post reports.

After consulting with the Office of the Attending Physician, Capitol Police said only essential personnel will be allowed at the run-through, citing the heat. A final call on whether the concert itself, shifted to Friday this year because of separate Freedom 250 events on the National Mall on Saturday, will proceed is expected by 10am Friday. Forecasts for Friday and Saturday top 100 degrees, with extreme heat advisories in place.