Another dangerous heat wave will hit in week ahead, meteorologists warn

Key Points:

• A large and long-lasting heat dome will impact most of the continental U.S. starting this weekend, causing temperatures 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit above normal and lasting at least a week, with some areas affected until the end of the month.
• The heat dome, a high-pressure system trapping hot air and blocking cooling winds, will cover up to two-thirds of the Lower 48 states, initially affecting the Northern Plains and potentially spreading coast-to-coast, leading to record-breaking triple-digit temperatures in multiple states.
• Over 90 local temperature records, mostly overnight heat records, are expected to be tied or broken, posing significant health risks as hot nights prevent the body from cooling down and recovering.
• The heat wave is intensified by drought conditions that reduce soil and air moisture, creating a feedback loop that worsens heat and increases wildfire risk across affected regions.
• Climate change is a major factor in the severity and persistence of this heat wave, making such extreme temperatures at least five times more likely, according to climate scientists and attribution studies.