News article: Heat dome temperatures across central US

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1WASHINGTON (AP) - Dangerously hot weather will expand 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 with roughly 70 million people facing heat advisories.
1WASHINGTON (AP) - Temperatures hit sweltering highs across much of the central United States on Saturday as forecasters warned that dangerously hot weather from Dallas to North Dakota would push into next week, with roughly 80 million people facing heat advisories.
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3[A heat dome](https://apnews.com/article/climate-heat-dome-temperatures-baa416ddc73ce7e5b902bcf6686f0ff0), where atmospheric conditions trap heat, will create sustained high temperatures and accumulating discomfort. Overnight low temperatures aren't expected to come down enough for people to have much chance to recover, allowing heat stress to build as the bad weather lingers, forecasters said. The high humidity will make it feel even worse.
3[A heat dome](https://apnews.com/article/climate-heat-dome-temperatures-baa416ddc73ce7e5b902bcf6686f0ff0), where atmospheric conditions trap heat, was forecast to create sustained high temperatures and accumulating discomfort. Meanwhile overnight lows were not expected to come down enough for people to have much chance to recover, allowing heat stress to build as the bad weather lingers, forecasters said. With the high humidity, it feels even worse.
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5A huge stretch of the country will endure the oppressive midsummer weather. It will stretch from the desert Southwest to the Gulf Coast, reaching up into the Midwest and Great Plains. Some records around the Denver area may be broken, forecasters said. Temperatures are expected to be 10 F to 15 F (5.6 to 8.3 C) above what's normal.
5The oppressive midsummer weather was forecast to affect a huge stretch of the country, from the desert Southwest to the Gulf Coast and reaching up into the Midwest and Great Plains. Some records around the Denver area could be broken, forecasters said, and temperatures were expected to be 10 F to 15 F (5.6 to 8.3 C) above normal.
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7"It looks like it is going to be pretty much stationary in that position as we go through the week," said Bob Oravec, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
7"It looks like it is going to be pretty much stationary in that position as we go through the week," said Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
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9There might be some relief in the central United States toward next weekend, but even that might be temporary, he said.
9## Hot weather changes plans and makes life harder for those who work outdoors
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11Places under a National Weather Service extreme heat warning included western Nebraska, where temperatures Saturday and Sunday were forecast to reach 108 F (42 C).
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13At the Museum of the Fur Trade near Chadron, Nebraska, there were fewer visitors than usual for this time of year. Fur hats and pelts in the gift shop were not selling so hot.
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21"I'm sure no one would be willing to wear it on a day like this," museum employee Hannah Lovelace said. Loose-fitting, period-correct fabric shirts, on the other hand, remained popular sellers among folks headed to historical frontier reenactments called rendezvous, she said.
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23The region's heat was forecast to continue through the week, with temperatures topping 100 F (37 C) even in normally moderate areas of Montana and Wyoming.
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25Las Vegas was also expected to see near record-breaking highs. On Saturday, when temperatures reached around 114 F (45 C) in the valley, HVAC repair technician Kristian "Flaco" Santos spent hours outside fixing air conditioning units. His job involves climbing onto homeowners' roofs or in their attics, where temperatures can be 15 degrees warmer.
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27"It is brutal," Santos said, adding that not everyone can work in the heat. "I'm not Superman, but I do, I do take care of myself when I'm in the heat."
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29Santos wears long-sleeve shirts and hoodies to protect himself from the sun, drinks lots of water with electrolytes to stay hydrated and takes small breaks to cool down. He encouraged people who work outside to do the same.
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31"You want to get home to your family safe," Santos said.
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33There might be some relief in the central U.S. toward next weekend, but even that might be temporary, Oravec said.
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1735Some areas will be spared. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast should avoid the extreme heat, as will much of the Pacific Northwest.
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19This is the latest miserable stretch of weather during a summer that has already had a lot of it. The eastern United States endured [an unbearably hot early July](https://apnews.com/article/extreme-heat-northeast-july-fourth-95b2bf4bcfcd7b1444bf2f5085e01947) that forced communities to cancel Independence Day celebrations and disrupted the country's 250th anniversary. [Another heat wave in mid-July](https://apnews.com/article/heat-wave-dome-weather-808787f73a64aecbffb334b4fcbf33b6) hit the Southwest and Great Plains. It's not just the United States. A heat wave in June devastated Europe; [France recorded](https://apnews.com/article/france-heatwave-extra-deaths-health-agency-dff2ed624e0cdad02f836d30ae3e878f) at least 5,700 more deaths than usual during this period.
37This is the latest miserable stretch of weather during a summer that has already had a lot of it. The eastern U.S. endured [an unbearably hot early July](https://apnews.com/article/extreme-heat-northeast-july-fourth-95b2bf4bcfcd7b1444bf2f5085e01947) that forced communities to cancel Independence Day celebrations and disrupted the country's 250th anniversary. [Another heat wave in mid-July](https://apnews.com/article/heat-wave-dome-weather-808787f73a64aecbffb334b4fcbf33b6) hit the Southwest and Great Plains.
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21This heat dome will be dangerous. Children and the elderly, along with those with medical conditions, are especially at risk of serious conditions including heat stroke. The [basics are important](https://apnews.com/article/heat-wave-humidity-air-conditioning-cooling-centers-c275c904fcda067a87777ab57ba18b5f): people should seek out air conditioning or a cooling center and make sure they drink enough water and limit time under the direct sun.
39It's not just the United States: A June heat wave devastated Europe, with [France recording](https://apnews.com/article/france-heatwave-extra-deaths-health-agency-dff2ed624e0cdad02f836d30ae3e878f) at least 5,700 more deaths than usual.
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23The weather will shift somewhat through the week with the worst pockets of heat becoming particularly severe across Texas and parts of the Gulf Coast by Wednesday.
41On Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, fans for the Brickyard 400 will be offered water refill stations and places to get cool, and packed coolers will be allowed. In Denver, recreation centers will set aside areas for people to get out of the heat and in front of air conditioning.
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43## In an already hot year, heat extremes are dangerous
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45Authorities warned that this heat dome will be dangerous. Children and older adults, along with people with medical conditions, are especially at risk of serious conditions including heat stroke. The [basics are important](https://apnews.com/article/heat-wave-humidity-air-conditioning-cooling-centers-c275c904fcda067a87777ab57ba18b5f): Seek out air conditioning or a cooling center, and make sure to drink enough water and limit time under the direct sun.
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47The weather will shift somewhat through the week, with the worst pockets of heat becoming particularly severe across Texas and parts of the Gulf Coast by Wednesday.
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49It can be difficult to know exactly how climate change contributes to particular events in real time. But rising carbon dioxide levels from burning fossil fuels makes it more likely that hotter weather becomes more frequent and extreme, said Andy Pershing, chief program officer at Climate Central, a climate change communications nonprofit.
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51"We are experiencing exactly what the climate models in the 1990s said we should experience now. That is more frequent, more severe heat waves, bigger temperature anomalies, more humidity, higher overnight temperatures," Pershing said. "These are all part and parcel of the climate story."
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53The continental U.S. endured the second-hottest first half of the year on record in 2026, according to average temperature tracking by the National Centers for Environmental Information. June itself was the 18th warmest.
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2757The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP's environmental coverage, visit [https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment](https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment)
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61Mead Gruver in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Jessica Hill in Las Vegas contributed.