While dozens of southern US cities have seen record-high heat temperatures in July, August could be even hotter.
Heat Wave Alert
The Weather Prediction Center of the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts that heat may rise to dangerous levels over the weekend. Such heat levels are expected to go beyond the normal, and even the record-breaking, heat levels in certain regions, from lower Mississippi Valley and the central Gulf Coast to the northern High Plains.
The week after, heat may stretch to Texas and the Central Plains.
Meteorologist Zack Taylor from the NWS explains that they are looking into excessive heat stretching over prolonged periods. These heat levels can go beyond daily highs from this weekend until the week after.
Taylor further explains that this could be summer's hottest period in certain areas, such as the Midwest.
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Heat Dome
These prolonged hot days are due to an upper-level ridge, a high-pressure region up in the air. This ridge will be at the core and persist over the central US. A low-pressure area in the western US and Hurricane Hilary interactions will keep it at bay.
Taylor notes that this will allow the heat to accumulate and get stronger through the coming week to the point where dangerous heat levels will hit. Such a situation is called a heat dome, which occurs when persistent high-pressure regions capture and trap heat in a certain area for a period of days or weeks at a single time.
This heat dome will reportedly spread temperatures equivalent to "triple-digit highs." It will rage over the mid-area and persist to the South.
This heat dome, in particular, could be one of the strongest ever observed in some areas of the Plains. This heat will be dangerous, searing, expansive, and stretch for many days.
Stronger Heat Waves Due to Climate Change
Summer has been sizzling hot across the Gulf Coast and southern plains. Now, this heat will be felt in more regions across the US.
Climate change is the reason behind these heat waves' increased intensity and frequency. Just last month, a global research team said that the waves that sizzled the cities of the US would not have been possible without climate change brought about by humans. Researchers have also claimed climate change has made heat domes five times more likely.
Adjunct scientist Kai Kornhuber from Columbia University explains that these waves are getting even hotter and occurring more frequently. This, in turn, shows that sequential heat waves are more likely to happen.
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