US Heat Dome Threatens 110-Degree Records and Fire Risk for 33 Million
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 10
US Heat Dome Threatens 110-Degree Records and Fire Risk for 33 Million
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 10
Summary
33 million people across Western and Central states were under heat or fire weather alerts early Friday as a new heat dome targets drought-hit areas with temperatures up to 110 degrees.
Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming face the first surge this weekend, with Salt Lake City forecast to hit 106 on Sunday and Billings potentially challenging its all-time record.
By Monday, the heat dome shifts into the Plains, pushing many areas in the Dakotas above 100 degrees and sending a Denver-to-Minneapolis corridor well into the 90s through Wednesday.
Hot, dry and windy conditions are expected to raise wildfire danger across the interior West, where forecasters warned elevated fire zones could be upgraded and lightning strikes may ignite delayed blazes.
Forecasters linked the pattern to a building El Niño reshaping the jet stream, while climate change is intensifying heat domes; some monsoonal moisture could bring scattered storms to the West next week.