Heat Dome Intensifies, Worsening Dangerous Heat Wave in Western US
An already dangerous weekslong heat wave in the Western United States is set to worsen this weekend as a heat dome intensifies and reaches peak strength. The National Weather Service in Phoenix has called this heat dome “one of the strongest high pressure systems this region has ever seen.” As a result, around 100 heat records could be broken today through the weekend, adding to the more than 1,000 high temperature records already broken in the US since June.
More than 90 million people are currently under heat alerts as the heat dome expands into areas like California, which is experiencing its first extreme heat wave of the year. Texas, Florida, and Arizona have already been enduring dangerously hot temperatures for weeks. Phoenix, in particular, is in the midst of a likely record-breaking streak of consecutive 110-degree days, leading many businesses and parks to close or adjust their hours. The low temperature in Phoenix may not drop below 90 degrees for eight consecutive days, setting another record.
Forecasters have advised residents of Las Vegas to avoid the outdoors between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., as the city is expected to challenge its all-time high temperature of 117 degrees on Sunday. Nighttime temperatures will also remain high, nearing 90 degrees,
How is the heat dome intensifying and what impact is it having on temperature records in the Western United States?
An already dangerous heat wave in the Western United States is set to worsen as a heat dome intensifies and reaches its peak strength. The National Weather Service in Phoenix has described this heat dome as one of the strongest high pressure systems in the region’s history. This means that around 100 heat records could potentially be broken from today through the weekend, adding to the already 1,000 high temperature records that have been broken in the US since June.
Currently, more than 90 million people are under heat alerts as the heat dome expands into areas like California, which is experiencing its first extreme heat wave of the year. Texas, Florida, and Arizona have already been enduring dangerously high temperatures for weeks. In Phoenix, there is a record-breaking streak of consecutive 110-degree days, leading many businesses and parks to modify their hours or close entirely. The low temperature in Phoenix is expected to remain above 90 degrees for eight consecutive days, setting another record.
Forecasters have advised Las Vegas residents to stay indoors between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. as the city is expected to challenge its all-time high temperature of 117 degrees on Sunday. Additionally, nighttime temperatures will remain high, nearing 90 degrees.
Stay safe everyone, and remember to take necessary precautions during this intensifying heat wave.