A heat dome is expanding across the central United States, bringing dangerously hot conditions to approximately 70 million people over the weekend and into the coming week. Forecasts indicate temperatures will surpass 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) from Dallas to North Dakota.
The atmospheric phenomenon traps heat, leading to sustained high temperatures and accumulating discomfort. Overnight low temperatures are not expected to provide sufficient relief, allowing heat stress to build throughout the period. High humidity is also contributing to the oppressive conditions.
The affected region is vast, stretching from the desert Southwest across the Gulf Coast and into the Midwest and Great Plains. Some areas near Denver may experience record-breaking temperatures, with expected highs 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.
"It looks like it is going to be pretty much stationary in that position as we go through the week," said Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Relief may be temporary and is not anticipated until possibly the following weekend in some central U.S. areas.
However, the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and much of the Pacific Northwest are expected to avoid the most extreme heat.
This heat wave follows a summer already marked by extreme weather. The eastern United States experienced a severe heat wave in early July, and the Southwest and Great Plains faced another in mid-July. Globally, heat waves in June impacted Europe, with France reporting a significant increase in excess deaths during that period.
Health officials warn that the prolonged heat poses serious risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, who are at higher risk of heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses. Authorities advise seeking air-conditioned spaces, drinking ample water, and limiting exposure to direct sunlight.
By Wednesday, the most intense heat is expected to concentrate across Texas and parts of the Gulf Coast, with some weather pattern shifts anticipated.
While attributing specific weather events to climate change in real time is complex, experts note that rising carbon dioxide levels are increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves. "We are experiencing exactly what the climate models in the 1990s said we should experience now. That is more frequent, more severe heat waves, bigger temperature anomalies, more humidity, higher overnight temperatures," said Andy Pershing, chief program officer at Climate Central. "These are all part and parcel of the climate story."