This summer has definitely been one for the record books as the heat turned from barely bearable to deadly in many areas of the U.S. Although the official end of the summer is on the horizon, a developing heat dome is likely to keep the heat around for a large part of the rest of August.
Heat Expands From Central U.S.
Although Texas is no stranger to heat, its largest city of Houston saw temperatures of 100+ degrees everyday in August - in exception for one day when it only reached 99 degrees. Other large cities of Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio hit temperatures three to five degrees above the historical average since summer began.
In the evening when temperatures are expected to cool down, some of these Texas cities only saw two nights in August that reached below 80 degrees.
This particular heat dome responsible for the relentless heat was created by a zone of high pressure reaching from near the Earth's surface to the sky where jets fly. Once this zone is formed, it produces cyclical heat and dryness that's hard to get rid of.