An intense heat dome, described as one of the most powerful on Earth, is currently enveloping the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States, bringing with it record-shattering temperatures.
The atmospheric phenomenon, characterized by persistent high pressure trapping heat near the surface, began impacting areas as far west as the Dakotas and is projected to peak along the Mid-Atlantic coast by Wednesday. Temperatures are forecast to climb above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in many locations.
Major cities are bracing for extreme heat, with New York City expected to reach 99 degrees on Wednesday. Baltimore and Atlantic City are forecast to hit 102 degrees, while Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Newark will experience highs around 101 degrees.
This heat dome is rivaling a similar intense burst of heat occurring over northern Africa, making them the two strongest such events globally. The dangerous heat has already led to extreme temperatures elsewhere, with Montana recording 115 degrees and Michigan reaching 100 degrees as the weather pattern shifted eastward.
As of early Tuesday, over 110 million people in the Northeast are living in areas under heat alerts. The heat is also contributing to uncomfortably warm nights, with temperatures expected to remain barely below 80 degrees Fahrenheit in affected areas.
Impacts Beyond Temperature
The extreme weather is not confined to the U.S. Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, recorded a record high of 102.4 degrees, accompanied by smoke from nearby wildfires. This smoke plume is expected to drift across the Great Lakes and into the Northeast on Wednesday, potentially degrading air quality and causing hazy skies in cities such as New York, Buffalo, Detroit, and Minneapolis.
In addition to the heat and potential smoke, parts of northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine could experience severe thunderstorms on Wednesday. These storms may bring damaging winds and the possibility of tornadoes.