Scorching US heat wave to hit 70 million people with third ‘heat dome’ in month
Around 70 million Americans are under excessive heat advisories as a third major heat dome in a month drives temperatures from the Gulf Coast to the Great Plains and Midwest, with 95-105F (35-40C) expected and desert areas possibly hitting 120F (48C). The heat is expected to persist into the coming week, trapped by high pressure that acts like a lid. Experts attribute the intensifying heat to human-caused climate change, underscoring growing frequency and severity of heatwaves and higher overnight temperatures. The event heightens risk for vulnerable populations and could set regional heat records, signaling a challenging near-term outlook for public health and infrastructure.
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About 70 million people in the US are under excessive heat advisories as the third major heat dome in a month expands from the Gulf of Mexico coast to the Great Plains and the Midwest, with 95-105F (35-40C) expected and pockets of the Southwest desert potentially reaching 120F (48C).
The heat dome traps hot air under a high-pressure system, causing temperatures to remain elevated for days or weeks and prolonging the period of extreme heat across multiple states.
Researchers and officials link the intensification to climate change driven by fossil-fuel emissions, noting more frequent and severe heatwaves, higher overnight temperatures, and greater humidity as the pattern evolves.
Recent weeks have already seen record-breaking heat and disruptions, including an earlier dome that led to canceled Independence Day events and 115F (46C) heat in Montana, with Denver area records on the horizon and western Nebraska warned of 108F (42C).
Heat poses the deadliest weather-related risk, with older adults, pregnant people, children, and those with health conditions most vulnerable to the combined heat and humidity, including limited nighttime relief.
Beyond the US, Europe faces wildfires and fatalities from heat, with Spain and France seeing large displacements and deaths, while firefighting efforts continue amid scorching conditions in multiple regions.