Sweltering heat dome continues to grip south-central US, set to expand
A heat dome will expand across the south-central United States, bringing extreme heat to millions of Americans.
Conditions have been toasty across the south-central United States during a large stretch of June. AccuWeather forecasters say that temperatures will climb between 5-15 degrees Fahrenheit above historical averages through this week, putting daily record highs in jeopardy.
A northward bulge in the jet stream across the Central states has allowed persistent hot air to push northward from Mexico and expand across parts of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, southern Kansas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
"The heat that has gripped Texas for days on end will extend into [this] week as an intense core of high pressure high up in the atmosphere expands in coverage from northern Mexico into more of eastern Texas," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist La Troy Thornton.
Cities across northern and eastern Texas, such as Dallas, Tyler and Wichita Falls, typically observe high temperatures in the lower to middle 90s F during the last week of June but are all forecast to climb above 100 F multiple days this week.
A 'heat dome,' a term that meteorologists use to describe an expansive and stagnant zone of high pressure that causes climbing temperatures and limits cloud cover due to sinking air, will hover across the Central U.S. for much of this week. Forecasters say that as the jet stream nudges slightly northward and eastward in the coming days, the heat will build into a portion of the Plains, Mississippi Valley and Southeast.
Early Monday morning, heat advisories were in place across a large portion of Texas, southern Oklahoma, Louisiana, parts of central Mississippi and the southern counties of New Mexico. Excessive heat warnings were also issued for west-central and southern Texas early Sunday.
Heat to build across the Plains, Mississippi Valley and Southeast
Intense temperatures upwards of 100-110 F will also grip a large portion of southern New Mexico, southern Arizona and parts of Southeastern California throughout this week. Traditionally known hot places like Death Valley, California, may finally climb upwards of 113 F later this week, a level that locations in Texas contended with for several days last week, as the dome of heat continues to expand.
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Residents are advised to be mindful of heat dangers such as dehydration, heat stroke, sunburn, heat rash and heat exhaustion. Taking actions such as drinking plenty of water can help to combat some of these risks, and it is recommended to frequently check on those in the community, such as children and the elderly, and, if possible, stay in an air-conditioned environment during peak heating hours.
During times of extreme heat, a hidden danger can be elevated temperatures lingering into the overnight hours, particularly for those without air conditioning. When air temperatures remain elevated as people go to sleep, additional strain on the heart can occur as the body tries to regulate the internal temperature. This is especially true in highly urbanized areas where the urban heat island effect occurs.
Temperatures typical of late July will spread to parts of the Plains through late this week. Locations such as Kansas City, Missouri, are expected to climb into the mid-90s Fahrenheit by late this week, roughly 7-10 degrees above the historical average for late June. So far in June, Kansas City residents have only observed two 90-degree days, but temperatures have come close to that mark on multiple occasions.
Even locations such as Wichita, Kansas, and Springfield, Missouri, are forecast to reach near to above the 100-degree mark around the latter half of this week, roughly 10 degrees above the typically observed temperatures for this time of year.
As the northward bulge in the jet stream pushes eastward by late week, conditions will heat up across the Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast states. Even locations in Florida will flirt with record-breaking temperatures, such as Miami, Tampa Bay and West Palm Beach. Daytime highs are forecast to rise to within a few degrees of the existing daily record high temperatures from the mid- to late week.
Is relief from the heat on the way?
Chances for some relief from the heat may arrive across areas of western and northwestern Texas by later this week. However, temperatures may only drop to values near to slightly above the historical average for some locations, such as Amarillo, Texas.
"Texas in particular is in dire need of a break from the extreme heat and humidity, but the center of the heat dome that is providing these dangerous conditions looks to stick around through at least midweek. In Houston, temperatures are expected to remain above the historical average for the foreseeable future," stated Thornton.
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