After June became the hottest on record, record breaking heat continues to plague the US this summer. Right now, a devastating “heat dome” has set up across the country and according to NOAA, the sweltering temperatures are set to last through the weekend.
“Hot and very humid conditions will push the heat index to well over 100 degrees across a large portion of the central and southern states this week. Excessive Heat Watches and Heat Advisories are in effect for much of the Plains, Miss. Valley, Midwest and southern states through the weekend.” – NOAA Heat Advisory
This graphic recently released by NOAA shows the severity of the heat dome and its effects.
5 Startling Climate Change Facts From NOAA
- 14 consecutive months of record breaking heat
- Sea surface temperatures reach a record high
- 2015 was the hottest year on record
- 169 heat records broken in the last 7 days!
- The mean sea level has rise 6.7″
Heat Dome Definition:
Under high pressure, the air subsides (sinks) toward the surface. This sinking air acts as a dome capping the atmosphere.
This cap helps to trap heat instead of allowing it to lift. Without the lift there is little or no convection and therefore little or no convective clouds (cumulus clouds) with minimal chances for rain. The end result is a continual build-up of heat at the surface that people experience as a heat wave.
#ActOnClimate Here: Protect Our Winters
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