CLIMATE
What is a ‘heat dome’ and how will it affect temperatures in the East Coast next week?
Record-breaking temperatures are expected across the East Coast and Midwest next week, with officials warning of a major heat dome covering the area.
Across the United States, high temperatures warn of the heat that could continue as summer approaches. In parts of the East Coast and Midwest, a massive ‘heat dome’ is expected to form in the coming days into next week, trapping hot air and allowing residents little respite from the sweltering temperatures. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a series of Excessive Heat Watch Warnings across parts of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia that will be in effect through the weekend. The alerts are set to begin on Monday and run through Friday, with temperatures above 100ºF expected in some cities every day next week.
The Pittsburgh office of the National Weather Service has also been attempting to inform the public of the upcoming risks on social media. In one post from Saturday, the agency encouraged residents to take the threat seriously. “For the Ohio River River Valley, this potentially could be the most impactful heat wave of the 21st century,” read the warning. Recording breaking temperatures are expected, with some cities expected to see the thermometer rise to 110ºF.
What is a ‘heat dome’?
“A heat dome occurs when a persistent region of high-pressure traps heat over a particular area, and it can linger for days to weeks,” says the NWS. The heat under the dome is dry, and the pressure usually pushes storms to its perimeter. Those trapped under one should be patient as these events “are typically linked to the behavior of the jet stream, which is a band of fast-moving winds high in the atmosphere that move in meandering wavelike patterns.” When the high pressure eventually breaks from changes in the jetstream, temperatures will come down.
What is the difference between a ‘heat dome’ and a heat wave?
“A heat dome is different from a heat wave,” explains Weather.com. A heatwave describes a period of high heat that can be dry or humid and caused by a myriad of factors, including a heat dome. This means that the period of high temperatures caused by the heat dome counts as a heat wave.