Additional Coverage:
- Heat dome expands across the central United States, creating dangerous conditions for millions (nbcnews.com)
A widespread heat wave is set to scorch much of the central United States this weekend and into the coming week, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit from Dallas all the way to North Dakota. Approximately 70 million people are under heat advisories as a persistent heat dome traps intense heat across the region.
This heat dome-an atmospheric phenomenon that traps warm air-will cause sustained high temperatures, with overnight lows remaining uncomfortably warm, preventing relief from the heat and increasing the risk of heat stress. High humidity levels will only add to the discomfort.
The oppressive heat will stretch from the desert Southwest to the Gulf Coast, extending north through the Midwest and Great Plains. Forecasters warn that temperatures could be 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit above average, with some records near Denver potentially being broken.
Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, explained that the heat dome is expected to remain nearly stationary throughout the week, prolonging the heat wave. Extreme heat warnings have been issued for areas including western Nebraska, where temperatures could reach as high as 108 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend.
At Nebraska’s Museum of the Fur Trade near Chadron, visitor numbers have dropped, and fur hats and pelts have stalled in sales due to the sweltering conditions. Museum employee Hannah Lovelace noted that while fur apparel isn’t popular in this weather, lighter, period-appropriate shirts remain in demand for local historical reenactments.
The heat is expected to persist through the week, with even typically cooler regions in Montana and Wyoming experiencing temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Some relief may come next weekend, but it could be short-lived, according to forecasters.
Regions such as the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and much of the Pacific Northwest are expected to avoid the worst of the heat.
This heat wave adds to a summer already marked by extreme temperatures. Earlier in July, the eastern U.S. faced severe heat that disrupted Independence Day celebrations and the nation’s 250th anniversary events.
The Southwest and Great Plains also experienced a heat wave in mid-July. Internationally, Europe endured a devastating heat wave in June, with France reporting thousands of excess deaths during that period.
In response to the heat, event organizers at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Brickyard 400 will provide water refill stations and cooling areas, allowing fans to bring coolers. Denver recreation centers are also opening spaces for people to escape the heat and access air conditioning.
Health officials stress the dangers posed by this heat dome, particularly to children, the elderly, and those with medical conditions, who are at higher risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke. The advice remains clear: seek air conditioning or cooling centers, stay hydrated, and limit exposure to direct sunlight.
The pattern may shift somewhat during the week, with the most intense heat moving toward Texas and parts of the Gulf Coast by Wednesday.
While it can be challenging to attribute specific weather events directly to climate change in real time, experts say that rising carbon dioxide levels from fossil fuel use make extreme heat waves more frequent and severe. Andy Pershing, chief program officer at Climate Central, noted that current conditions align with climate model predictions from the 1990s, which anticipated more frequent, intense heat waves, higher humidity, and elevated overnight temperatures-all hallmarks of the changing climate.