WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� 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.
, where atmospheric conditions trap heat, will create sustained high temperatures and accumulating discomfort. Overnight low temperatures aren鈥檛 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.
A 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鈥檚 normal.
鈥淚t looks like it is going to be pretty much stationary in that position as we go through the week,鈥� said Bob Oravec, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
There might be some relief in the central United States toward next weekend, but even that might be temporary, he said.
Some areas will be spared. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast should avoid the extreme heat, as will much of the Pacific Northwest.
This is the latest miserable stretch of weather during a summer that has already had a lot of it. The eastern United States endured that forced communities to cancel Independence Day celebrations and disrupted the country’s 250th anniversary. hit the Southwest and Great Plains. It鈥檚 not just the United States. A heat wave in June devastated Europe; at least 5,700 more deaths than usual during this period.
This 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 : people should seek out air conditioning or a cooling center and make sure they drink enough water and limit time under the direct sun.
The 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.
___
The 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鈥檚 environmental coverage, visit
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
