Texas braces for record high temperatures as heat dome approaches

A heat dome that has brought nearly three months of scorching triple-digit weather to Phoenix has now shifted into Texas, where it is projected to break high temperature records by the upcoming weekend, as per the National Weather Service. Texas is under a significant heat alert, denoting unusual and prolonged extreme heat with minimal relief during the overnight hours. In addition, an extreme heat alert has been issued for eastern New Mexico.

Meteorologist Bryan Jackson defines a heat dome as a sluggish upper-level high-pressure system characterized by stable air and a deep layer of high temperatures. It usually entails sunny conditions with intense heat and limited air circulation. Numerous locations, primarily in Texas, are experiencing record-breaking daily highs due to this phenomenon.

Anticipated record high temperatures are forecasted for cities like Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Amarillo in Texas. Despite monsoon showers intermittently providing brief relief in Phoenix since Sunday, daytime temperatures persist above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). The dome is predicted to head towards western Oklahoma and eastern New Mexico, then continue into the mid-Mississippi Valley, where it is expected to weaken slightly.

Approximately 14.7 million individuals are under an excessive heat warning, with heat indices projected to reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) and higher. Another 10 million are under a heat advisory. Emergency medical services have reported a surge in heat-related calls, with MedStar ambulance in Fort Worth, Texas, responding to 286 such incidents during the first 20 days of August.

Captain Christa Stedman of Austin-Travis County EMS has noticed an increase in heat-related illnesses in the vicinity of the Texas state Capitol compared to the previous year. Most cases involve heat exhaustion, indicating early intervention before it escalates to heatstroke. However, there is concern that individuals are disregarding warning signs like heat cramps, signaling overheating.

Meteorologist Jackson described this summer as exceptionally hot, noting the extreme conditions being witnessed. Incidents of heat-related illnesses have been reported in various parts of the US, with about 100 people falling ill and two fatalities recorded in California’s Death Valley National Park due to the heat. Meanwhile, globally, a 13-month stretch of new average heat records was broken in July following the gradual decline of the El Nino climate pattern, as reported by the European climate agency Copernicus.