Deadly storms and a heat wave marred America’s 250th birthday for swathes of the United States, leaving hundreds of thousands of utility customers without power.

Millions of Americans across the Northeast experienced record-setting temperatures — thunderstorms in the Midwest downed trees, ruptured power lines and made transportation treacherous and complicated across multiple states.

In Washington, D.C., thunderstorms forced the temporary evacuation of thousands of people from the National Mall, which hosted the Freedom 250 Fourth of July celebrations that included a delayed address from President Trump and a massive fireworks show. In both the nation’s capital and New York City, images of lightning bolts and fireworks displays simultaneously illuminating the skies above iconic landmarks circulated on social media.

The intense weather is expected to continue through the week, with 34 million people in the Northeast under a flood watch through late Monday.

Repeated rounds of heavy rain in the mid-Atlantic region could lead to flash flooding in the Northeast’s urban areas. Some areas, including Philadelphia and New York City, may receive up to four inches of rain between Monday and Tuesday.

Strong to severe thunderstorms are also possible from the mid-Atlantic into the northern Plains, while additional showers and thunderstorms continue across the northern tier and parts of the Great Basin as a cold front pushes through the area.

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