Bob Oravec warns that a heat dome will bring dangerously hot weather to the central United States through next week.
Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, stated that a heat dome will trap temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit across much of the central United States this weekend and into next week. Roughly 70 million people face heat advisories as the weather stretches from the desert Southwest to the Gulf Coast. The high humidity and sustained temperatures will make it difficult for residents to recover overnight, as low temperatures are not expected to drop significantly. While the Mid-Atlantic and Pacific Northwest will remain relatively cool, western Nebraska is expected to see highs of 108 degrees Fahrenheit. The administration of the National Weather Service notes that children and the elderly are at the highest risk for heat stroke. While climate change makes these extreme events more frequent, the current heat wave is a significant midsummer occurrence. To cope with the heat, local recreation centers and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are providing cooling stations and water refills for the public.