Scorching 'heat dome' descends over usually mild states as NWS warns of record temperatures
The Pacific Northwest is set to break record temperatures this week due to a 'heat dome' parked over several states.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Spokane said the mercury would soar into the high 90s and the low 100s.
A heat dome is a high-pressure area with hot air trapped inside, making the area even hotter.
An extreme heat warning was in place for parts of eastern Washington until 9pm on Tuesday, with advisories covering half of the state.
Other areas of Oregon and even parts of Northern California were also expected to be hit by the heat.
In their advisory, the NWS said there would be 'very little relief at night', and urged people to stay out of the sun.
They added: 'Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.'
Alongside the stifling temperatures, low humidity and winds of up to 30mph have also raised concerns of potential wildfires.
Temperatures started to rise over the weekend, with a record breaking temperature of 90 degrees being recorded in Seattle, the NWS said.
The last record held was a temperature of 87 degrees that was set in 1948 and last reached in 2015.
Seattle also broke its record high minimum temperature, with the mercury only dropping to 61 degrees, again breaking a record from 1958.
Temperatures got so high that North King County published a list of cooling sites for those struggling in the heat over the weekend.
According to the Energy Information Administration only 30 percent of homes in Washington state have air conditioning.
The advisory had also advised to stay clear of snow-fed rivers that remain frigid, with the potential for cold shock still a worry despite the high heat.
It added: 'Early season warm-ups like this, especially overlapping with the weekend, tend to elevate the number of people seeking relief in area waters.
'We're still early in the season and waters are still running cold and fast and we've already had cold water-related fatalities this year.'
The dome was formed by a ridge of high pressure that managed to push the jet stream north into Canada, moving inclement weather away from the area.
The hot weather is expected to ease off on Wednesday as a ridge of high pressure moves across the area.
As the Pacific Northwest cooked, the southern Plains and the southeast were hit with days of wet and windy weather.
Rain has soaked parts of the region from New Mexico and Texas to parts of Northern Florida and Georgia, the weather service said.
In 2021 an extreme heat wave affected much of the North West of America, bringing with it scorching temperatures.
During this temperatures broke daily records in some locales by 54 degrees, while Canada's highest ever temperature 121.3 was recorded in Lytton, British Columbia.
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