Dangerous Heat Is Building Toward St. Louis and Memphis This Week

The heat dome that set up over the western U.S. last week is now spreading to the east, impacting millions of Americans in the Midwest and the Mississippi Valley as the month of July comes to a close. Read on for the details of the latest heat wave to grip the nation's heartland.

Heat Dome Expanding Over Central Plains and Beyond Early Week

Brace yourself for more extreme heat and humidity if you live in the central U.S. A new heat dome has ushered in record-breaking temperatures to a large zone from the Plains and into the Mississippi Valley to start the new work week. The core of the heat pushed out of the northern Rockies and Dakotas through Monday, creeping south and east as the week progresses.

While the temperatures will moderate slightly across the northern U.S., the mercury will be on a sharp upward trajectory in the central Plains and into the Mississippi Valley. Cities that should expect temperatures to eclipse or approach the 100-degree mark early in the week include Kansas City, Des Moines, Omaha, and Memphis, with St. Louis expected to hover near or above the century mark. Forecasters are warning that this heat wave will have some staying power, with most of these areas expected to see triple-digit temperatures for several days. It will also mark the hottest days of the season thus far in much of this region.

Exacerbating the heat will be the rising humidity levels. The steamy conditions will be the most pronounced over the Mississippi Valley. RealFeel temperatures will inch up to about 110 degrees at times during the peak of the heat wave. Communities located closer to the Mississippi River could see dangerous RealFeel readings of 115 degrees.

The onset of rain showers and thunderstorms Monday and into Tuesday will bring only slight relief from the searing heat. The uptick in precipitation will also come with higher humidity levels, particularly on Monday afternoon.

Daily highs will slip just a bit by the end of the week; however, it will remain toasty and muggy right on through early August. Forecasters are not predicting any significant relief from the dog days of summer until at least mid-August. It will be important for those with underlying health conditions to take care to prevent heat-related illnesses in the days ahead.

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