A massive ridge of high pressure can trap heat like a lid on a pot
Massive high-pressure systems known as heat domes act like atmospheric lids, trapping scorching air near the ground and pushing temperatures to record-breaking extremes for weeks at a time.
A heat dome occurs when a strong high-pressure system aloft creates subsidence, a process where air is forced downward and compressed. This downward pressure prevents cooler air from mixing in, effectively trapping heat like a lid on a pot. These systems can cause surface temperatures to skyrocket 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit above average, sometimes reaching peaks of 112 degrees Fahrenheit.
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