At least 10 heat records were broken in southwestern and central U.S. cities over the weekend, and more could fall this week amid forecasts of continued scorching heat.
Cities and towns in Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas posted record highs on Friday and Saturday. Some broke temperature records set almost a decade ago and others surpassed previous highs by as much as six degrees. The high temperatures are largely the result of a “heat dome” – a persistent region of high pressure that traps heat over the area.
Although the daily records broken were not necessarily widespread, given that July is already a hot time of year, the conditions created by the heat dome have still been favorable for approaching and breaking records in many areas, Accuweather meteorologist Joseph Bauer told USA TODAY.
“(The heat dome) has been there from late last week through this weekend, and it’s going to stay there for the week ahead, and that’s what’s going to keep it warm in the West,” Bauer said. “It’s been a very warm summer this year.”
What heat records were broken?
In Colorado, Denver International Airport recorded a record 100 degrees for July 9, according to the National Weather Service, surpassing the record high of 98 degrees for that date just last year. Colorado Springs he also hit a record 97 degrees on the same day, breaking a record set in 2021.
Parts of Texas broke records from nearly a century ago: Austin’s Camp Mabry military base hit Saturday a record high of 106 degreesbreaking a previous record of 105 degrees set in 1925 and tied in 2009. Waco, Texas, reached 108 degrees on Saturday, far surpassing the record high of 104 set in 1917, 1935 and 1978.
Some states didn’t just see records broken, they were broken. At Riverside Airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Friday, the temperature it reached a record high of 105 degreeswell surpassing the 2001 high of 99 degrees for July 8. The surrounding cities of McAlester and Muskogee in Oklahoma, as well as Fayetteville, Fort Smith and NWA Airport in Arkansas also broke records by ranges of one to six degrees.
When will this heat wave end?
A cold front moving through North and South Dakota on Sunday could bring relief to the Denver area this week, Bauer said, but the strength of the heat dome is expected to raise temperatures in the area again in the days ahead. next, possibly to another record level.
There’s also not much relief for the Austin area, according to Bauer, who said Accuweather is forecasting temperatures “in the high hundreds” over the next week, again approaching records.
The heat dome is likely to move and expand westward as the week begins and temperatures will be on the rise in Arizona, Nevada and Utahaccording to Accuweather.
The heat dome is strong enough to prevent cold fronts from approaching areas affected by the dome, thus keeping the heat from accumulating in places like the Great Plains, Bauer said, an area already suffering from a long period of drought.
“It is unfortunate to see this set up as there is not much relief in sight,” he said.
How should you prepare for extreme heat?
Because extreme heat and humidity can challenge the body’s ability to cool itself, it’s valuable to know the signs of excessive heat exposure and how to treat heat-related illnesses. Knowing the warning signs of heatstroke and heat exhaustion, and the differences between the two, can help you protect yourself and those around you, experts say.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those most at risk of heat illness are people 65 and older, children younger than 2 years old, and those living with chronic or mental illnesses.
Ways to prevent heat-related illness include drinking water, using air conditioning, limiting outdoor activity, spending time in the shade when outside, and cooling off in a pool or other mass of water
Also keep an eye on your pets amid the high temperatures and humidity: Suggested by the Humane Society of the United States limit exercise for dogs on hot days, provide ample shade and water for your pet, and watch for signs of heat stroke, such as heavy panting, glazed eyes, and rapid heartbeat.
