Over the past weekend, a massive and unusually intense “heat dome” has formed in the eastern United States. It is expected to expand to the Midwest and Great Lakes region in the coming days, bringing the first significant heatwave of the year to these areas.
The “heat dome” is a summertime atmospheric phenomenon where a high-pressure system stalls over an area for an extended period, trapping hot air underneath like a lid and preventing cold air from entering. This causes temperatures under the dome to soar, leading to extreme heatwave events.
According to the National Weather Service in the United States, extreme heat threats are expected this week from the Great Lakes to the Northeast, with hundreds of records likely to be broken or tied. Wednesday (June 19) and Thursday (June 20) are projected to be the hottest days of the week, although temperatures are expected to slightly decrease in the following days. Many major metropolitan areas including Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York City, and Boston are forecasted to see temperatures reaching dangerous levels.
The U.S. weather department predicts that at least 265 million people across the country will experience temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) or above this week, with around 22 million people facing scorching temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). Heatwaves in the Southwest have arrived earlier than usual this year, with temperatures in locations like Phoenix, Arizona surpassing 109 degrees Fahrenheit (about 43 degrees Celsius) over the weekend. Last year, 645 people in that region died due to the heatwave.
In response to this, U.S. health officials are urging citizens to take precautions against the heat and stay cool. Some affected areas have already initiated heatwave response measures. People across the country are finding ways to beat the heat and stay cool through various means.