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UC Davis said it had to cancel a commencement ceremony on Friday midway through because of safety concerns related to heat, leaving hundreds of graduates unable to walk across the stage.

The move came as graduates attended the first in-person ceremony since the pandemic. Triple-digit temperatures are forecast in the Valley on Friday and Saturday.

(See the forecast in the video above.)

“Based on health and public safety concerns due to heat and at the urging of the UC Davis Fire Department, Fire Prevention Services, and Environmental Health and Safety, we had to end today’s commencement ceremony early,” UC Davis said in a statement. “We deeply regret that some students did not get a chance to walk across the stage.”

The university said that people who didn’t get to walk across the state can return with their families for a separate ceremony on Sunday.

“We appreciate your understanding and know this has been frustrating,” UC Davis said.

UC Davis has planned two more undergraduate ceremonies through Sunday at UC Davis Heath Stadium.

The commencement speaker on Saturday is Rep. Jackie Speier and on Sunday Alfred S. Chuang, the founder and chairman of Magnet Systems Inc. will speak.

UC Davis said that 7,000 students registered to walk in the ceremonies and 12,500 students and guests are expected at each ceremony.

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