A massive heat dome shifting from the western U.S. will blanket the central states through the final days of July, driving triple-digit highs and dangerously high humidity from the Plains to the Mississippi Valley. Forecasters warn that the heat will peak with RealFeel temperatures around 110°F in several cities, and heat-related risks will persist even as storms arrive to provide modest relief. The center of the heat is expected to move south and east this weekend, with cities like Kansas City, St. Louis, and Memphis facing their hottest conditions of the season. After a brief cooldown from midweek thunderstorms, patterns suggest above-average temperatures continue into August, keeping the heat stress elevated. A prior West Coast heat wave also pushed Phoenix to record high minimums, underscoring the broader extreme heat pattern shaping the region.
Dive Deeper:
The core heat outbreak is described as a heat dome building eastward from the interior West, with the final days of July expected to bring extreme heat far into the Plains and Mississippi Valley.
Forecaster Joe Lundberg notes the heat will shift from Montana and the Dakotas toward the south and east, with places like Billings and Bismarck forecasting temperatures up to 107°F.
Temperatures in major cities including Kansas City, St. Louis, and Memphis are projected to approach or exceed 100°F for multiple days early next week, marking the hottest period of the season so far.
Humid conditions will amplify danger, driving RealFeel temperatures to around 110°F or higher, increasing risks of heat cramps, exhaustion, and heatstroke for extended exposure.
Thunderstorm activity expected by Tuesday night or Wednesday should bring some relief, but temperatures will still top the low-to-mid 90s in most areas as the heat dome recedes to the West.
Forecasters caution there will be little lasting respite into mid-August, with ongoing heat above historical averages expected in both the Central states and much of the East.