"A heat dome works like a lid of high pressure. It builds overhead, trapping hot air at surface level, suppressing clouds and intensifying sunlight. The historic warming trend is expected to last through Thursday, with dozens of cities throughout the region expected to set daily temperature records from March 17 through March 19."
"By Wednesday, temperatures in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas are expected to hover near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which typically does not happen until mid-June. Temperatures in California's Death Valley, the hottest and driest national park, may reach 108 degrees by Wednesday, which would mark the earliest heat above 105 degrees was ever recorded."
"A heat dome forms when the jet stream, the fast-flowing river of air high over the US, develops a bulge or ridge. This ridge creates a barrier that blocks normal weather patterns, allowing warm air to sink and get trapped under the 'dome,' while keeping storms and cooler fronts away."
A massive heat dome is forming over 14 southwestern states, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming, with parts of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas also affected. Temperatures will be 15 to 30 degrees above average for mid-March, with major cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas expected to reach near 100°F by Wednesday. Death Valley may reach 108°F, marking the earliest occurrence of heat above 105°F ever recorded. The extreme conditions are expected to persist through Thursday and potentially beyond, with meteorologists warning of increased wildfire risks. Heat domes form when the jet stream develops a ridge, creating a barrier that traps warm air underneath while blocking normal weather patterns and cooler fronts.
Read at Mail Online
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