A large heat dome that has produced extreme temperatures across the western United States is moving eastward, bringing triple-digit heat to millions of residents from the Plains to the Mississippi Valley through the end of July.
The weather pattern shift follows intense heat across the interior West. On Friday morning, Phoenix, Arizona, tentatively tied its all-time record high minimum temperature at 97 degrees Fahrenheit.
AccuWeather meteorologists report that daytime temperatures in the 100s will become widespread across the central region over the coming days.
In the northern Plains, temperatures in Billings, Montana, and Bismarck, North Dakota, are forecast to reach as high as 107 degrees Fahrenheit through the weekend.
“The core of the brutal heat will gradually shift out of Montana and the Dakotas through Monday and head farther south and east as we go into next week,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg. “When the intense heat backs off next week, most days will remain in the 90s through next week in that area. Meanwhile, the heat will escalate farther south in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and portions of the Mississippi Valley.”
In the Texas Panhandle, several locations are expected to see temperatures at or above 105 degrees Fahrenheit for multiple days. Major cities including Kansas City, St. Louis, and Memphis are projected to hit or exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit by early next week, marking their highest temperatures of the season.
High humidity levels along the Mississippi Valley will compound the high temperatures.
“Not only will it be extremely hot, but it will be exceptionally humid as well, particularly over the Mississippi Valley,” Lundberg said. “The combination of the two will drive AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures to 110 degrees or higher.”
According to the RealFeel® temperature scale, readings at or above 110 degrees are categorized as dangerous, with prolonged exposure increasing the risk of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Cities directly along the Mississippi River Valley could see heat indices approach 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thunderstorms arriving late Tuesday or Wednesday are expected to bring slight relief, though conditions will remain hot. RealFeel® temperatures are projected to stay near 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday afternoon. While the core of the high-pressure system will eventually shift back west, temperatures are expected to stay above historical averages through mid-August.
“There really isn’t going to be much relief into the middle of August, unfortunately,” Lundberg added, noting that long-range forecasts project above-average heat across the Central and Eastern states heading into next month.
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