Advisory in effect as a heat dome is expected to raise temps to triple digits across South, Midwest

Yahoo

21 hours ago

By midweek, temperatures are expected to hit or exceed 100 degrees in most of the South, the Midwest and around the Great Lakes.
A 'heat dome' is expected to increase temperatures and humidity levels throughout the South and parts of the Midwest this week and will eventually move over the Northeast by the weekend.
A heat dome is a high-pressure bubble in the upper levels of the atmosphere that traps hot air and sun radiation underneath it. The Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit focused on climate change advocacy and education, compares heat domes to putting a lid on a hot pot; the lid keeps the hot air from leaving the pot and keeps the contents of the pot hot for a longer time.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued heat warnings and advisories for millions of residents throughout the South and Midwest early Monday morning. An 'Extreme Heat Watch' advisory alert, which warns 'dangerous heat is possible,' was issued for Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. An 'Extreme Heat Warning' alert, which warns 'dangerous heat is happening or about to happen,' was sent to Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi and Kansas residents.
Heat advisories were also issued for the entire state of Florida, as the state's heat index is expected to hit 110 to 115 degrees under the heat dome. (The NWS 'heat index' is a calculator that estimates what outdoor temperatures feel like to the human body.) The weather service's Heat Risk map shows that most of the state faces a major heat risk, with extreme conditions throughout the southwestern coast.
Hotter and more humid temperatures are expected to spread across the Midwest starting on Tuesday, according to AccuWeather. By midweek, temperatures will hit or exceed 100 degrees in most of the South, Midwest and Great Lakes region. The high temperatures will be paired with 'oppressively muggy air,' AccuWeather reported, especially in the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys.
Areas throughout Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana will experience peak temperatures either close to 100 degrees or above, Jonathan Erdman, the senior meteorologist at Weather.com predicts, potentially bringing triple-digit temperatures to Dallas for the first time in 2025.
Several of the cities that will be affected by the heat dome, such as Kansas City, Mo., have not hit triple-digit temperatures in two years, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Chad Merrill reported, and may experience record-high temperatures.
Merrill also expects that many residents of these cities 'won't get relief' from nighttime temperatures, which are expected to 'range from the mid-70s to the low 80s.'
The heat and humidity will move into the Northeast by Friday, the Weather Channel reported, noting that temperatures will likely become cooler than normal before rising under the heat dome.
Temperatures in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia could reach almost 100 degrees later this week, the Weather Channel said.
Northeast, Midwest also warned about severe thunderstorms
The Weather Prediction Center (WPC) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a warning over the weekend for excessive rainfall in areas across the Ohio Valley on Monday.
'Flash flooding is anticipated tonight over Northeast MO and Central IL as storms containing 3-4'/hour rainfall rates develop this evening,' the WPC warned on social media on Sunday, issuing a 'Moderate Risk' warning. The Moderate Risk level means numerous flash floods are likely to occur.
The NWS forecast discussion from Monday morning warned that upcoming thunderstorms posed flash flood threats in the Southwest, Northwest, Midwest, Mid-South and Southeast. While it's rare to see precipitation happen within a heat dome, severe thunderstorms are likely to form around its edges, often called the 'ring of fire.'
"In the world of meteorology, the ring of fire deals with thunderstorms along the northern edges of strong upper-levels high,' AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. 'Oftentimes, this setup produces severe thunderstorms along the northern edges of the heat.'
How to stay safe in extreme heat
Extreme heat is the deadliest type of weather in the U.S., even more so than tornadoes, flooding or hurricanes, according to research by the NWS. Prolonged extreme heat, as is expected in the heat dome this week, is especially dangerous for people who do not have access to air-conditioning or who spend a lot of time outdoors.
If you live in a place that will be impacted by the heat dome, here's what to do to help protect yourself:
Stay indoors and cool for as long as you can. Here is a list of public places you can go to for free air-conditioning.
Stay hydrated. It's helpful to add electrolytes to your water to further protect yourself from dehydration.
If you need to go outside, protect your skin by wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, sun-protective clothing and UV-blocking sunglasses.
Understand and look out for symptoms of heat-related illness. These include heavy sweating, fatigue, dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea and headaches. If you are experiencing these symptoms, move to a cool area to rest and hydrate.
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