US President Donald Trump's plans to commemorate America's 250th anniversary of independence with a rally on the National Mall were complicated on Saturday by severe storms that gathered near Washington DC, forcing event organisers to order an evacuation.

“Freedom 250 will share updates on programming and doors reopening,” Freedom 250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement that encouraged participants to seek shelter at museums and federal buildings near the National Mall. Washington's metro system also said several of its underground stations were available for shelter.

Trump initially planned to speak around 10 pm ET but it was unclear whether and how those plans would move forward. Spectators would need to be screened by security again and the US Secret Service announced earlier that it had temporarily closed checkpoints.

Elsewhere, severe weather prompted the cancellation of celebrations in Hartford, Connecticut, along with Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Spectators at Boston's fireworks and concert were told to briefly seek shelter before events later resumed. New York and Pittsburgh moved forward with fireworks but shifted the time to accommodate the shifting weather. (AP)




Edited by Robert Kemp