A heat wave is set to scorch large portions of the country this week, with temperatures near or at record highs across the northern and southern Plains, the Southwest, and much of central and southern Texas.
On Monday, temperatures will soar into the 90s in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, with some areas potentially hitting the triple digits, according to the National Weather Service.
By Tuesday, the hottest conditions will shift to Texas, where temperatures will consistently exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit throughout much of the state, the agency said.
“Record-breaking heat is expected across much of central and southern Texas through mid-week,” the weather service said in its short-range forecast on Monday.
The San Antonio weather service office, in a series of posts on X, warned that many people may not be acclimated to such extreme heat this early in the year, which increases the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
“Temperatures are forecast to soar above 100 degrees on Tuesday, and some areas may approach 110 degrees midweek. Make sure you have access to cooling and plenty of hydration before the heat sets in,” the office posted on X.
As the week progresses, the heat will intensify in the central and southern Plains, then spread into the Southeast and Florida.
Cities that could break daily temperature records this week include Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston in Texas; Oklahoma City; Shreveport, Louisiana; Charleston, South Carolina; and Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and Orlando in Florida.
The unusual heat is caused by a strong high-pressure ridge centered over Texas, which is parked over much of the country. These “heat domes” trap hot air over a region, sometimes causing temperatures to remain high for several days.
Southern California also experienced record-breaking temperatures over the weekend, with downtown Los Angeles reaching 103 degrees, surpassing the previous record of 99 set in 1988, according to the weather service.
Studies show that climate change is driving the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves around the world. Experts predict another hot summer this year after two consecutive years (2023 and 2024) of breaking global temperature records.
The consecutive record-breaking years are part of an unsettling warming trend predicted by climate change models. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the planet’s 10 hottest years since 1850 have all occurred within the past decade.
