Study links climate change to intensifying heat wave patterns
Climate change drives more frequent and severe heat waves globally.
Event / Disaster
Central US Heat Dome 2026
A dangerous heat dome expands across central United States affecting approximately 70 million people with temperatures exceeding 100°F from Dallas to North Dakota. The event features sustained high temperatures, high humidity, and insufficient overnight cooling allowing heat stress to accumulate. Geographic scope extends from Southwest desert to Gulf Coast and Midwest/Great Plains. This continues a summer pattern of extreme heat events, with scientists linking increased frequency and severity to climate change.
5 reported locations
Daily activity
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2026-08-15 to 2026-11-12 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 26 Jul, 01:16 UTC
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What happened
European heat wave in June caused excess deaths in France
A heat wave struck Europe in June, with France recording at least 5,700 more deaths than usual during this period.
Heat stress expected to accumulate due to high overnight temperatures and humidity
Overnight low temperatures are not expected to drop sufficiently for people to recover from daytime heat, allowing heat stress to build as the weather persists. High humidity will intensify the perceived temperature and dangerous conditions across the affected regions.
Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Pacific Northwest spared from extreme heat
The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions should avoid the extreme heat conditions, as will much of the Pacific Northwest, providing geographic relief from the expanding heat dome.
Climate change increases frequency and severity of heat waves
Rising carbon dioxide levels from burning fossil fuels make it more likely that hotter weather becomes more frequent and extreme. Climate models from the 1990s predicted experiencing more frequent, more severe heat waves, bigger temperature anomalies, more humidity, and higher overnight temperatures.
Heat conditions intensify across Texas and Gulf Coast by Wednesday
Weather patterns will shift through the week with the worst pockets of heat becoming particularly severe across Texas and parts of the Gulf Coast by Wednesday.
US experienced multiple heat waves throughout summer
The eastern United States endured unbearably hot conditions in early July that forced communities to cancel Independence Day celebrations and disrupted the country's 250th anniversary observance. Another heat wave struck the Southwest and Great Plains in mid-July.
Heat wave affects multiple US regions from Southwest to Great Plains and Midwest
The heat dome will stretch from the desert Southwest to the Gulf Coast, reaching up into the Midwest and Great Plains. Some temperature records around the Denver area may be broken. Western Nebraska is under a National Weather Service extreme heat warning with forecasted temperatures reaching 108°F (42°C).
Heat dome expands across central US with temperatures exceeding 100°F
A heat dome is expanding across much of the central United States this weekend and into next week, pushing temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) from Dallas to North Dakota. The atmospheric conditions trapping heat will create sustained high temperatures with roughly 70 million people facing heat advisories. Temperatures are expected to be 10-15°F above normal.
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2 alternative perspectives
Overnight heat and humidity raise health risks across central US
Heat stress accumulates as high overnight temperatures prevent recovery between sweltering days.
Heat dome blankets Southwest through Midwest, sparing northern regions
Heat dome covers Southwest to Midwest with 100°F+ temps; northern regions unaffected.