‘July Fry’: US Midwest, East Brace For Brutal Heat Dome

A heat dome will likely coincide with the US 250th anniversary celebrations, according to forecasts.

The searing heat pattern is expected to strengthen over the US Midwest to eastern region for an extended period that stretches into the Independence Day weekend, according to a report in Accuweather.

Multiple days of brutal heat and humidity have been forecast by The Weather channel also across the Central and Eastern US this week.

The dangerous heatwave forecast is expected to last several days and is set to affect weather conditions in more than two dozen states.

Heat domes are weather patterns in which heat and humidity hovers in an area for a few days, causing extreme discomfort.

Nexstar meteorologist Blake Matthews has termed the weather phenomenon as “July Fry.”

AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus has forecast dew point temperatures to top “well into the 70s in many areas.”

The dew point is the temperature at which air becomes fully saturated with water vapor.

The higher the dew point, the more humid it feels because there’s more water vapor in the air. In other words, air temperature of 65–70°F is considered humid and somewhat uncomfortable, while a range above 70°F very humid and oppressive.

The 70-degree mark is usually recorded in less than one-third of the days in the summer in the Midwest and Northeast.

As dew points rise, the body finds it harder to cool itself. Prolonged spans of heat and humidity increase the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, according to the report.

The forecast assumes significance as it sees temperature in some large cities clinging above 80 at night during its peak. Such a condition would be severe for cities due to the presence of pavement, concrete and brick, which absorbs solar energy during the day and release it at night.

The Accuweather forecast sees such conditions prevailing in the Eastern states by midweek. Many areas are forecast to have severe heat conditions stretching on to July 4.

It has also predicted 100 degrees in some regions like Philadelphia. The average temperature in Philadelphia will hover around the high 80s. It is expected to climb and stay over 100 three days, while Washington may see temperatures above 100 for four days.

New York City could also record 100 degrees for a couple of days this week and so is the forecast for New Jersey.

AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures, which account for humidity, sunshine, wind, cloud cover and other factors that influence how hot it feels, are forecast to cross 100 degrees and even top 110.

Jeff Berardelli, chief meteorologist at Nexstar’s WFLA, was quoted as saying that an initial heat dome would likely develop in the southwest and the next over the subtropical Atlantic.

These two will be replaced by the larger heat dome over the center of the US by the July 4 holiday, according to this forecast.

France had the worst heat-related news this week, with a spate of deaths related to the heat dome that settled in the region as many parts of Europe battled extreme heat this week.