A heat wave is gripping over 97 million people across the Southern and Eastern United States, as a significant ridge of high pressure, known as a heat dome, establishes itself this week. This phenomenon is expected to affect nearly 200 million individuals as it settles in, resulting in sustained hot and dry weather conditions.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, while this event may not shatter overall temperature records, it is anticipated that many areas will experience high temperatures soaring into the upper 90s. The combination of high humidity levels and elevated dew points is set to make the situation more uncomfortable, with heat indices potentially exceeding 100 degrees in major urban areas, including St. Louis, Kansas City, and Oklahoma City. In specific regions, the “feels-like” temperature could escalate to a stifling 110 to 115 degrees.
The heat dome is extending from the southern states further into the central U.S., resulting in little to no rain beneath it, which is especially concerning for areas like Texas that have recently faced flooding.
By mid-week, the effects will reach the Great Lakes region, pushing heat index values into the mid- to upper 90s as humidity simultaneously rises. Major cities from Washington, D.C., up to New York City, including Boston, will also see temperature highs hitting the 90s, and possibly even competing for daily record highs.
Heat advisories are currently issued for Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and particularly Boston from Thursday through Friday as temperatures continue to rise. The weekend may bring some relief to cities like New York and Boston with a slight dip into the 80s; however, the mid-Atlantic states will remain warm, with indices still in the lower 100s between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia.
This summer has seen a remarkable trend, with more than two dozen cities across the U.S. marking their top five warmest summers on record, according to the FOX Forecast Center. Projections for the remainder of the season indicate continued above-average temperatures for the Eastern and Northeast regions.
Hope remains as the forecast suggests a return to milder conditions for some areas by the weekend, which could help mitigate the extreme heat experienced during the week. It’s a reminder of the importance of staying hydrated and taking precautions during such heat spells.