July is set to end with potentially record-breaking heat as a heat dome drives triple-digit feels-like temperatures for millions across the Southeast, from Florida to Virginia, triggering heat alerts along the East Coast.
This large area of high pressure, known as a heat dome, is currently moving extreme temperatures throughout the U.S., with the Southeast now bearing the brunt. On Sunday, regions from southern Georgia to southeastern Virginia will experience the most intense heat, where Extreme Heat Warnings are in effect.
Monday is expected to be the harshest day, with record highs possible and an extreme heat risk for over 30 million people, according to forecasts from NOAA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Temperatures will generally range from the upper 90s to the lower 100s, with heat indices reaching as high as 120 degrees. Cities such as Charlotte, North Carolina, could see their first 100-degree day in two decades, while Nashville, Tennessee, and Jacksonville, Florida, may also surpass 100 degrees this week.
South Florida is notably excluded from heat alerts through Tuesday, but heat will intensify early in the week, with Orlando approaching triple digits by Tuesday. Relief from the heat in the Southeast is not expected until the weekend, with the most intense temperatures lasting through midweek.
The heat dome is projected to shift back toward the western U.S. in the coming days after previously moving over the Northeast. As this extreme heat continues, individuals spending time outdoors should take precautions against heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Vulnerable groups such as young children, infants, and older adults should minimize prolonged outdoor exposure, stay hydrated with water and electrolytes, and seek shade.
Pet owners are advised to test pavement temperatures by holding their hand on sidewalks or roads; if it’s too hot for a few seconds, it’s unsafe for pets to walk on.