How a heat dome works
Key takeaways
- This heat dome is expected to stretch across most of the East Coast and across the South and part of the Midwest, with dangerous conditions affecting more than two dozen states, according to AccuWeather.
- One notable U.S. heat dome was in the Pacific Northwest in 2021, which caused more than 1,000 heat-related emergency department visits.
- Through the weekend, cities along the Eastern Seaboard are expected to see temperatures reach 100 degrees, with high humidity making conditions feel hotter.
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This heat dome is expected to stretch across most of the East Coast and across the South and part of the Midwest, with dangerous conditions affecting more than two dozen states, according to AccuWeather.
The National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) describes a heat dome as an exceptionally hot air mass that develops when high-pressure systems remain over a certain area for a period and trap warm air over that area.
One notable U.S. heat dome was in the Pacific Northwest in 2021, which caused more than 1,000 heat-related emergency department visits. Oregon and Washington saw record-breaking heat, with Portland reaching a high of 116 degrees, 42 degrees hotter than the average daily June high temperature, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).