logo
‘Heat Dome' Could Last Into Early August. These States Will Be Affected.

‘Heat Dome' Could Last Into Early August. These States Will Be Affected.

Forbes2 days ago
More than 60 million people across the South and Midwest are already feeling the effects of a "heat dome" that could last weeks and bring triple digit temperatures to major cities that haven't seen them yet this year.
Farm workers weed a bell pepper field in the sun. AFP via Getty Images
The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories across parts of 19 states with more intense extreme heat watches in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.
Even more dangerous extreme heat warnings are in effect in parts of Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Major cities under heat alerts include Dallas; New Orleans; Memphis, Tennessee; Little Rock, Arkansas; St. Louis; Kansas City, Missouri; Chicago and Minneapolis.
In Dallas, temperatures could reach 100 degrees on Thursday and Friday for the first time this year and Kansas City, which hasn't seen 100-degree weather in two years, could also hit triple digits.
Heat indexes, also called the "feels like" temperature, will be in the 100- to 110-degree range across the central Plains and Southeast for the rest of the week, and the heat is forecasted to extend to the East Coast on Friday.
The high temperatures are thanks to what meteorologists call a "heat dome"—a high-pressure build up of hot, humid air caused by a bulge in the jet stream—which is expected to "linger through a good chunk of August," Accuweather's Alex Sosnowski predicts.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here : joinsubtext.com/forbes.
More heat. The Climate Prediction Center's latest forecast shows August will be another hot month for most of the country, with a high chance for above-average temperatures almost everywhere.
The midwest, much of which is currently under the heat dome, is also particularly susceptible to a phenomena called evapotranspiration, or "corn sweat." The phrase describes a process by which plants, including corn, release water vapor into the air and increase humidity, contributing to the feel of oppressive heat. States with large swaths of farm land—like the 30 million acres in Iowa and 27 million acres in Missouri—are particularly vulnerable. Iowa state climatologist Justin Glisan described corn sweat to the Washington Post as feeling 'like being fully clothed in a sauna or steam room.' Key Background
The last several summers have been reported as the hottest summers on record. Globally, 2024 was once again the hottest year on record and temperatures last year were 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit above NASA's 20th-century baseline. The record was broken after 15 consecutive months of monthly record-setting temperatures (from June 2023 through August 2024). July 22, 2024 was the hottest day ever recorded—global surface air temperatures reached an average of 62.87 degrees Fahrenheit. The most recent month to break global temperature records was January. So far, 2025 isn't expected to top 2024. Surprising Fact
Extreme cold is much more likely to kill than exposure to extreme heat. Hypothermia, frostbite and worsening of pre-existing medical conditions are often deadlier than problems brought on by hot weather, though heat-related deaths have been on the rise in the U.S. More than 2,300 people died of causes tied to heat in 2023, and heat-related deaths have spiked 117% since 1999. Only Workers In These 5 States Have Workplace Heat Protections
The National Weather Service has warned people in extreme heat to stay safe by staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen, wearing loose-fitting and light-colored clothing and limiting time outdoors. Increasing heat waves pose particular dangers to the outdoor workers who often labor under the sun for hours per day—many with no workplace protections. Workers in more than 40 states have no regulations governing shade, rest or water on the job, and there are no heat-specific regulations mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration beyond recommendations for employers when temperatures reach above 91 degrees. Only five states have heat exposure standards for all outdoor workers—California, Minnesota, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, according to OSHA. Joe Biden brought forth a new rule intended to protect workers last year, and the comment period on the proposed regulations ends in September. Forbes How To Stay Cool In A Post-Climate World By Erik Kobayashi-Solomon Forbes What's Your Retirement Forecast? Heat, Hurricanes And Wildfires Ahead By Joseph Coughlin Forbes Bad Weather And Bad Bunny Threaten A Bad Season For Live Music In America By Bill Hochberg
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Maps show U.S. heat advisories, high temperatures as heat dome moves east
Maps show U.S. heat advisories, high temperatures as heat dome moves east

CBS News

time43 minutes ago

  • CBS News

Maps show U.S. heat advisories, high temperatures as heat dome moves east

The extreme heat that has baked much of the central United States this week is slowly shifting east ahead of the weekend, forecasters said. More than 130 million Americans across at least 20 states are under heat alerts on Thursday. Parts of the Midwest, including the Corn Belt, have felt the high temperatures for multiple days. Temperatures on Thursday are forecast to be 10 to 15 degrees above average for this time of year with feels-like temperatures over 100 degrees expected in multiple areas. Some parts of the Mississippi Valley will continue to see high temperatures over 90 degrees for a few more days, even as the heat dome moves over parts of the Northeast. A heat dome happens when hot air is trapped over an area due to a persistent high pressure system, William Gallus, a professor of atmospheric science at Iowa State University, said. Heat domes can last for days to weeks and can stretch over multiple states. With extreme heat in the Corn Belt, a region including parts of the Plains and Central Mississippi Valley, a phenomenon known as corn sweat has made the humidity worse, experts said. "There are pores on the bottom side of the leaves," Iowa state climatologist Justin Glisan told CBS News national correspondent Lana Zak. "And that's where oxygen is released, but also water vapor." The process can add up to 10 degrees to the feels-like temperature, Glisan said, because just 1 acre of corn can release as much as 4,000 gallons of water into the air per day. Iowa has around 13 million acres of corn.

Chicagoans attempting to stay cool during second day of dangerous heat
Chicagoans attempting to stay cool during second day of dangerous heat

CBS News

time43 minutes ago

  • CBS News

Chicagoans attempting to stay cool during second day of dangerous heat

It's not easy to cool off during dangerous temperatures, but people around the city are coping with the extreme heat. One place heating up is the farmers market, and this season, the heat has been really hard on those who grow crops and stand outside for hours to sell at Daley Plaza. Miguel Sanchez at Parras Farms, a conventional farm, said they've had irrigation issues and have had to adapt to keep their crops alive due to the heat. He's hoping folks still come out despite the heat because these summer farmers market days are so important to his business "It's extremely warm today. I truly hope people come out, I know it's really warm, and people would just want to be in the air conditioning," he said. "I've been buying plenty of water, it's been kinda hard." On the Northwest Side, power was restored after an overnight outage in Belmont Cragin. Neighbors there said they slept through it. Others say it got hot fast without air conditioning in their homes, forcing some residents outside to get a break. Others went to their vehicles for air conditioning. Comed crews restored power around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday. The electric company cited bad transformers in the area. They also said that on the hottest and most humid days, powerlines work overtime. They've been setting up generators to help the grid, with so many having their air conditioners on full blast. If you're looking for a place to cool off, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications has cooling stations throughout the city. Most will be open until 5 p.m.

130 million people on alert as hot, sticky weather expected from Texas to Maine
130 million people on alert as hot, sticky weather expected from Texas to Maine

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

130 million people on alert as hot, sticky weather expected from Texas to Maine

At least 130 million people from Texas to Maine are under alert for dangerous heat and humidity over the next few days. Hot and sticky temperatures will make it feel as high as 115 degrees in parts of the Mississippi River Valley. Even Niagara Falls will get no relief from the sweltering conditions; the tourist destination will feel like the mid-to-upper 90s on Thursday. The heat index in Chicago, which factors in humidity, will make it feel in the triple digits and nighttime and early-morning temperatures will provide little comfort. As of 4 a.m. Thursday, the actual temperature was 80 degrees, or 85 with the heat index. Texas will be just as hot on Thursday, as the heat index is expected to make it feel 107. Up north in Detroit, it's forecast to feel 102. Dangerous heat will spread to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast as temperatures in the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Portland, Maine, will make it feel like it's in the mid-90s on Thursday. Maine is under a heat advisory mainly for Friday as the heat index will make Portland, Maine, feel like it's 100 degrees. New York City, Boston and Philadelphia are also bracing for extreme temperatures. On Friday, the feels-like temperature is expected to be reach 104 in New York City, 103 in Boston, 106 in Philadelphia and 109 in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Meanwhile, the Midwest and the Southeast is expected to see hot and humid weather stretch into the weekend and into early next, as the heat indices are expected to make it feel 110 degrees in some parts. MORE: Congressional committees push back on Trump administration's proposed NOAA budget cuts Most of the Southeast, including Atlanta, is expected to see a level four out four "extreme heat risk" on Monday and Tuesday as a potentially life-threatening heat wave continues in the region. Besides the heat, the Midwest, specifically Kansas and Missouri, is expected to see a summer flash flooding continue. Strong thunderstorms on Thursday could cause flooding across the region, which is still recovering from flash floods earlier this week. MORE: Body of missing woman found as death toll from Texas floods reaches at least 136 Heavy thunderstorms are expected to develop over the Midwest on Thursday afternoon and through the night, with rainfall totals forecast to reach 2 to 4 inches or higher in some areas along the I-70 corridor. The Kansas City region may see the brunt of storms with multiple rounds of heavy rain possible.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store