"Tens of Millions Trapped in Extreme Heat... US Scorching Under Expanding 'Heat Dome'"

On the 16th (local time), citizens are cooling off by getting sprayed with water at a festival in Manchester, Tennessee, USA. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The early heatwave sweeping across the United States is expected to intensify further. This is due to the massive heat dome phenomenon caused by stagnant hot air resulting from global warming.

On the 18th (local time), CNN cited weather authorities' forecasts, reporting that the recent heatwave hitting the U.S. will worsen next week, causing tens of millions of people to suffer from scorching heat.

According to the report, on this day, more than 25 million people across dozens of states were placed under heat advisories. In particular, temperatures from Lincoln, Nebraska to Fargo, North Dakota are predicted to exceed 37 degrees Celsius this weekend. Earlier, the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) stated that about one-third of the U.S. population (approximately 125 million people) were affected by the heatwave due to record-breaking heat.

The problem is that this heat is expected to continue next week due to the heat dome. A heat dome occurs when high pressure stagnates over an area, creating a hemispherical roof that traps hot air and causes a heatwave. CNN reported that the heat dome currently lingering over the northern plains of the U.S. is gradually moving eastward, expanding the heatwave area and bringing record-breaking heat next week.

According to CNN, in St. Louis, Missouri, where the highest temperature was 30 degrees Celsius on this day, the temperature could soar to 37.7 degrees Celsius on the 21st. Chicago, where the highest temperature did not exceed 21 degrees Celsius on this day, is expected to reach up to 35 degrees Celsius on the 20th. Raleigh, North Carolina is predicted to reach a high of 37.8 degrees Celsius on the 22nd.

Meanwhile, the heat dome phenomenon observed worldwide is showing a tendency not only to increase in intensity but also to last longer recently. Scientists attribute the cause to climate change. The increase in fossil fuel use has intensified global warming, which has also affected the heat dome.

A climate expert from Imperial College London in the UK argues that climate change is a game changer for heatwaves. He analyzed that due to human activities emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the frequency of heatwaves in Europe has increased more than 100 times. Although the specific cause has not been clearly proven, the academic consensus is that record-breaking heatwaves do not occur naturally.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.