Dangerously hot weather is expanding across much of the central United States this weekend and into next week, with roughly 70 million people facing heat advisories. The weather event is driven by a heat dome, a high-pressure atmospheric system that acts as a lid, trapping heat over a region for days or weeks.
Temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit from Dallas to North Dakota. According to the National Weather Service, an extreme heat warning has been issued for western Nebraska, where weekend temperatures were forecast to reach 108 F. In Dallas, temperatures reached 100 F on Monday and 106 F on Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs forecast to remain at or above 100 F through early next week, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Regional Impact and Forecasts
The oppressive midsummer weather stretches from the Gulf Coast and the desert Southwest into the Great Plains and Midwest. Some areas in the southwestern U.S. desert could potentially reach 120 F, while temperatures in the Midwest and Great Lakes region are ranging in the 80s and 90s. Forecasters noted that temperatures in the Denver area may be 10 F to 15 F above normal, potentially breaking records.
While some relief may arrive in the central U.S. toward next weekend, meteorologist Bob Oravec of the National Weather Service stated it might be temporary. The Pacific Northwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast are expected to avoid the extreme heat. In normally moderate areas of Montana and Wyoming, temperatures are still forecast to top 100 F.
Public Health Risks and Safety
Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the U.S., causing 2,000 deaths annually according to Yale research. The current heat dome is considered dangerous because high humidity and overnight low temperatures that do not drop sufficiently prevent people from recovering, allowing heat stress to build. Danger is particularly acute at temperatures above 103 F.
Those at the highest risk for serious conditions, including heat stroke, include:
- Young children
- The elderly
- Pregnant people
- Individuals with existing medical conditions
To mitigate these risks, experts advise staying hydrated, using cooling centers, and avoiding outdoor workouts. In Denver, recreation centers are setting aside air-conditioned areas for the public. Alex Sosnowski of AccuWeather advised limiting strenuous activity during midday and afternoon hours and seeking shade whenever possible.
Climate Context and Historical Patterns
This event marks the third major heat dome to hit the U.S. in the past month. Earlier July events caused temperature records to tumble in Montana, where heat reached 115 F, and led to the cancellation of some Independence Day celebrations in the east.
Andy Pershing, chief program officer at Climate Central, stated that the current frequency and severity of heat waves, higher overnight temperatures, and bigger temperature anomalies are exactly what climate models from the 1990s predicted. He attributed these trends to rising carbon dioxide levels from burning fossil fuels.
Broader Environmental Effects
The heat dome increases the risk of droughts and wildfires. Currently, firefighters are tackling 88 fires across the U.S. Similar dangerous conditions are affecting Europe, where 250,000 people have fled wildfires in France and Spain. Officials estimated that a separate June heat wave in France resulted in approximately 5,700 deaths.
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