SEO Riders:
– Heat dome intensifies extreme July heat across central and eastern US after widespread flash floods.
– Nearly 90 million under heat advisories; heat index expected to reach 105–115 °F in many cities.
– Flash flooding events up by 70% this year, raising concern over the growing combination of extreme heat and deluges.
A persistent heat dome driven by a bulging jet stream is now engulfing much of the central and eastern United States, ushering in a prolonged period of extreme heat and humidity after recent rounds of flash flooding. As of July 20, an estimated over 200 million Americans are expected to experience the sweltering conditions, with nearly 90 million residents in the South and Midwest already under National Weather Service heat warnings and advisories. Cities from Texas and Oklahoma to the Great Lakes and Northeast are bracing for heat index values between 100 °F and 115 °F, while overnight relief remains limited due to high humidity.
This soaring heat follows a dramatic spike in flash flood occurrences, which have surged by 70% above the decade average, as heavy rainfall earlier this summer saturated soils and overwhelmed urban infrastructure. Dangerous “ring of fire” storms are forecast to circle the heat dome’s perimeter, threatening damaging winds, hail, and more flash flooding in the Midwest, Tennessee River Valley, and Southeast. Meteorologists warn that continued wet/hot cycles strain communities and hamper cooling at night, urging citizens—especially the elderly and those with health issues—to stay hydrated, limit outdoor exposure, and seek air-conditioned spaces.