Happy Independence Day! The Fourth of July has arrived in the Lower Hudson Valley and New York City-metro area.<\/p>\n
From today’s weather to a recap of events from the day before (including, yes, a certain celebrity wedding) read on for the latest updates.<\/p>\n
July 4 weather forecast for Lower Hudson Valley, NYC<\/p>\n
In the Lower Hudson Valley, look for highs near 97 degrees Saturday with heat index values as high as 102, a Friday night forecast from the National Weather Service sa<\/a>id<\/a>.<\/p>\n There’s a 50% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Saturday night, expect mostly cloudy skies with lows near 70 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 40%.<\/p>\n An extreme heat warning<\/a> is in effect for the region until 9 p.m.<\/p>\n The week’s weather prompted the opening of public cooling centers across Westchester, Rockland and Putnam<\/a>, including at private assisted living facilities<\/a>.<\/p>\n New York City’s dangerous heat wave is expected to continue through Saturday before cooler air arrives Sunday.<\/p>\n The National Weather Service has an extreme heat warning in effect for New York City and much of the surrounding metro area until 9 p.m. Saturday. High temperatures are expected to range from 97 to 102 degrees, with heat index values \u2014 what it feels like with humidity \u2014 between 105 and 115 degrees.<\/p>\n Relief is expected to arrive Sunday, July 5, when showers and thunderstorms move through the region. High temperatures are forecast to fall to about 86 degrees, ending the stretch of triple-digit heat index values.<\/p>\n Read more: <\/strong>When will New York’s heat wave end? Here’s when cooler weather arrives<\/a><\/p>\n Nyack celebrates USA 250 with time capsule unveiling. See photos<\/p>\n 1 of 21<\/p>\n Nyack Mayor Joe Rand speaks during a ceremony celebrating USA 250 at Veterans-Easter Memorial Square on Main Street in Nyack July 3, 2026.<\/p>\n (Peter Carr\/The Journal News)Holiday weekend continues after community celebrations, a certain celebrity wedding<\/p>\n Several events are scheduled for Saturday, but bear in mind, considering the day’s forecast of extreme heat and potential thunderstorms, some may cancel. Check your community’s website and social media pages to be sure.<\/p>\n Key events for Saturday include historic happenings kicking off at noon at Philipse Manor Hall in Yonkers<\/a>, the Orangetown 250th Celebration<\/a> and Parade which lines up at 9 a.m., and others. In New York City, be sure to check out the Sail4th 250 Class A tall ships flotilla or see if you can stomach the annual Nathan’s Famous July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island<\/a> in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n Friday July 3 saw a variety of events delight big crowds in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and New York City.<\/p>\n In Nyack, a day of family-friendly fun and historical observances drew big crowds. On the schedule: a reading of the Declaration of Independence and an unveiling of the village’s new 2026 time capsule.<\/p>\n According to Mayor Joe Rand<\/a>, the village would solicit ideas over the next few months for items to place in the capsule, which would then be stored in a vault in Village Hall with instructions to be opened in 50 years.<\/p>\n Nyack wrapped up the day with fireworks, which, for the first time, were held offshore at Memorial Park.<\/p>\n See photos from the Nyack Fourth of July fireworks display<\/p>\n 1 of 37<\/p>\n Scenes from Nyack Celebrates USA 250 event at Memorial Park in Nyack on Friday, July 3, 2026.<\/p>\n (John Meore\/The Journal News)<\/p>\n Read more:; <\/strong>Nyack cheers Declaration of Independence, shapes time capsule<\/a><\/p>\n Sybil Ludington statue returns to Carmel, see photos<\/p>\n 1 of 36<\/p>\n The statue of Sybil Ludington returned to shores of Lake Gleneida in Carmel July 3, 2026. The statue was restored and returned in time for America\u2019s 250th anniversary. Sybil Ludington was 16 years old in April of 1777, when she rode on horseback from Danbury, Connecticut, to Carmel, New York, to warn of an imminent British attack.<\/p>\n (Frank Becerra Jr.\/The Journal News)<\/p>\n In Carmel, dozens gathered for the return of an icon: the recently-restored statue of Sybil Luddington<\/a> was ceremoniously reinstalled on the shores of Lake Oneida.<\/p>\n Further south, in the city, throngs of people braved the sweltering heat to catch a glimpse of tall ships making their way to the Sail4th 250 Class B Parade.<\/p>\n Decked out in festive red, white and blue, New Yorkers and visitors alike waved at the vessels as they made their way up the East River.<\/p>\n Brooklynite Greg Oransky, who had pulled up a chair to watch the ships’ arrival, said as the last of his relatives remaining in New York City, he felt “obligated to participate” in Independence Day celebrations in the Big Apple.<\/p>\n See the tall ship celebration marking United States\u2019 250th anniversary<\/p>\n 1 of 25<\/p>\n A Class B tall ship sails down the East River and under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City during Saiil4th 250 Parade of Sail July 3, 2026. The Class B ships are the smaller class of tall ships. On July 4, the larger Class A Sail4th 250 Parade of Tall Ships will sail up the Hudson River from the Verrazzano Bridge to the George Washington Bridge on the west side of Manhattan.<\/p>\n (Seth Harrison, Seth Harrison)<\/p>\n In midtown, another festive event would take place, although perhaps not in honor of America’s 250th birthday. After days of speculation, pop music superstar Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce finally tied the knot at Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n Swift’s representative Tree Paine confirmed<\/a> the details Friday night, including the who designed what and even who officiated.<\/p>\n Their\u00a0wedding ceremony looks were created by Christian Dior Haute Couture<\/a>, designed by creative director Jonathan Anderson.<\/p>\n Swift and Kelce did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, instead opting for\u00a0Swift’s brother Austin Swift as her\u00a0man of honor and Jason Kelce as the groom’s best man<\/a>.\u00a0The ceremony was officiated by\u00a0friend Adam Sandler<\/a>.<\/p>\n ‘JUST&T MARRIED’ Taylor Swift ties the knot. See photos outside MSG<\/p>\n 1 of 25<\/p>\n The Empire State Building is seen in the distance as people take photos of a giant screen showing the message “JUST&T MARRIED!” (T&T for Taylor and Travis) outside Madison Square Garden, the reported venue for the wedding celebrations of pop singer Taylor Swift and pro-athlete Travis Kelce, in New York City on July 3, 2026. US pop queen Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce, whose lavish wedding has drawn hundreds of celebrities to New York, have officially married, a representative for the singer said July 3. “Taylor and Travis did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen. Instead, her brother Austin Swift served as Taylor’s Man of Honor and Jason Kelce was Travis’s Best Man,” Swift’s longstanding publicist Tree Paine said in a statement.<\/p>\n (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Last minute shopping: <\/strong>Which grocery stores are open this July 4th?<\/a><\/p>\n Free shuttle service connecting Hudson Valley to Metro-North starts today<\/p>\n Free weekend shuttle bus service between Newburgh and Beacon<\/a> starts today, Saturday, July 4, offering connections to Metro-North Railroad trains to and from New York City.<\/p>\n Gov. Kathy Hochul said the success of weekday service between the Hudson River towns, introduced in January after ferry service was shut down, convinced state officials there was enough demand.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve heard from residents on the west side of the Hudson River about their limited public transit options and in 2026 we are changing that,\u201d Hochul said Thursday.<\/p>\n The buses will run between 7:45 a.m. and 8:52 p.m. on weekends and holidays and will connect with 27 Metro-North trains.<\/p>\n To see the full schedule, go leprechaunlines.com.<\/a><\/p>\n (This is a developing story. Check back for updates.)<\/p>\n Contributing: lohud staff, USA TODAY<\/p>\n