Heat Dome Sweeps Across U.S.: Cities on High Alert

Major cities across the United States are on high alert as they prepare for extreme temperatures driven by a heat dome. This meteorological phenomenon began in the U.S. Plains on Friday and is forecasted to spread over much of the country in the coming days.

The National Weather Service warns that temperatures could reach a dangerous 105 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the Midwest, including Chicago, this weekend. The heat will then expand to the Ohio Valley and much of the East Coast by early next week. A heat dome occurs when high-pressure air stalls and traps hot air, preventing cooler air from entering even at night.

In response, Chicago is opening cooling centers citywide, and Mayor Brandon Johnson emphasized the importance of these measures, reflecting on a tragic heat wave that claimed 700 lives 30 years ago. Similarly, New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to find their nearest cooling center as the city rolls out an information campaign on heat safety.

(With inputs from agencies.)