Heat Dome and Wildfire Smoke Blanket Much of the U.S.
A heat dome is intensifying across the U.S., bringing dangerously high temperatures and increasing wildfire risks. According to AccuWeather meteorologists, the heat dome currently over the Texas Panhandle is expected to push into the Southwest later this week, with temperatures ranging from 100°F to 111°F (37.8°C to 43.9°C). Southern California's deserts could see highs between 110°F and 120°F (43.3°C to 48.9°C). The heat dome acts as a lid on the atmosphere, trapping heat and exacerbating drought conditions. Wildfire risks are particularly high east of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon, as well as in British Columbia, Canada, where several large fires are already burning. Smoke from these fires is expected to impact air quality across the Northwest, Dakotas, and Northeast into August. 
