A high-pressure heat dome that has generated record-breaking temperatures across the western portion of the country is moving eastward, bringing the summer’s most intense heat to millions across the Central states and Mississippi Valley through the end of July.
The weather pattern arrives following a multi-day heat wave in the interior West, where Phoenix, Arizona, tentatively tied its all-time record high minimum temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday morning.
Temperatures across the Texas Panhandle are expected to reach or exceed 105 degrees for several consecutive days, while record highs remain possible in northern cities like Billings, Montana, and Bismarck, North Dakota, where forecasts call for peaks near 107 degrees through the weekend.
“The core of the brutal heat will gradually shift out of Montana and the Dakotas through Sunday and head farther south and east as we go into next week,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said. “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.”
By early next week, major metropolitan areas including Kansas City, St. Louis, and Memphis are projected to hit or surpass 100 degrees over multiple days. High humidity levels will further elevate heat indexes across the region.
“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.”
Temperatures in that range carry elevated risks for heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke for individuals spending extended periods outdoors.
Thunderstorms moving into the region by Tuesday night or Wednesday are expected to offer partial relief, lowering daytime highs into the low-to-mid-90s across affected areas.
Heat index values may still approach 100 degrees during afternoon hours as the high-pressure system pushes back toward the West. Long-range forecasts indicate temperatures will likely remain above historical averages across the Central and Eastern states through mid-August.
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