The third major heat dome event to hit the United States in the past month is gathering strength this weekend, placing approximately 70 million Americans under excessive heat advisories. Temperatures of 95-105°F (35-40°C) are expected from the Gulf of Mexico coast to the Great Plains and the midwest, with some desert areas in the southwest potentially reaching 120°F (48°C).

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for western Nebraska, where weekend temperatures are forecast to reach 108°F (42°C), and the Denver area could see records fall. The elevated heat is expected to linger into the coming week, held in place by the heat dome — a high-pressure atmospheric system that traps hot air beneath it like a lid.

This marks the third such event in a single month. A massive heat dome in early July forced the cancellation of some Independence Day events in the eastern US, and a subsequent heatwave further west pushed Montana temperatures to 115°F.

Heat remains the deadliest weather phenomenon in the United States. At least 44 people have died as a result of July heatwaves, and the current event offers little respite — nighttime temperatures are higher than ever, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, particularly for the elderly, young children, and those with existing health conditions.

The crisis is not confined to North America. Across the Atlantic, Europe is grappling with its own record-breaking heatwave. Approximately 250,000 people have fled wildfires in Spain and France, while 88 fires are actively being tackled across the US. Parts of the United Kingdom are also burning as hot, dry conditions have primed the landscape for fire.

The human toll in Europe has been severe. Health data published this month indicates that June heatwaves killed more than 10,000 people across the continent. The World Meteorological Organization has warned that Europe's record-breaking 2026 heatwave highlights the urgent need for early warning systems, heat action plans, and stronger climate resilience measures.

We are experiencing exactly what the climate models in the 1990s said we should experience now, said Andy Pershing, chief program officer at Climate Central. More frequent, more severe heatwaves, bigger temperature anomalies, more humidity, higher overnight temperatures. These are all part and parcel of the climate story.

Sources: The Guardian, NPR, World Weather Attribution