heat dome
noun
plural heat domes
: a large weather pattern characterized by high atmospheric pressure that collects and holds an unusual amount of heat over a particular area
Examples of heat dome in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the West, a smothering heat dome moved east after almost two weeks of record March temperatures; four spots in Arizona and California hit 112 degrees, and dozens of locations set heat records all the way to Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
—
Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
The recent stretch of sweltering spring days is thanks to a gigantic heat dome that is moving east slowly.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
This heat dome — in which high pressure is acting like a pot lid trapping hot air over a region — will leave Flagstaff, Arizona, with 11 or 12 straight days of temperatures higher than the city's previous March record, said meteorologist Jeff Masters of Yale Climate Connections.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
The spring forecast comes as parts of the Western United States experience a heat dome with temperatures topping 90 degrees.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 22 Mar. 2026
Heralding the start of an especially warm spring season in Austin is the arrival of a system of high atmospheric pressure that will produce a heat dome over Texas.
—Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
An unusually strong and sprawling heat dome is the catalyst for the heat, but the magnitude is undoubtedly being worsened by planet-warming pollution.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
High temperatures in the upper 90s and triple digits have been common throughout the region due to a sprawling heat dome that remains parked over the West.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Heat dome to raise temperatures A heat dome over the Southwest will push temperatures well into the triple digits in Arizona most of the week, much earlier than normal.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
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Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
The recent stretch of sweltering spring days is thanks to a gigantic heat dome that is moving east slowly.
—Katie Langford, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
This heat dome — in which high pressure is acting like a pot lid trapping hot air over a region — will leave Flagstaff, Arizona, with 11 or 12 straight days of temperatures higher than the city's previous March record, said meteorologist Jeff Masters of Yale Climate Connections.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
The spring forecast comes as parts of the Western United States experience a heat dome with temperatures topping 90 degrees.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 22 Mar. 2026
Heralding the start of an especially warm spring season in Austin is the arrival of a system of high atmospheric pressure that will produce a heat dome over Texas.
—Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
An unusually strong and sprawling heat dome is the catalyst for the heat, but the magnitude is undoubtedly being worsened by planet-warming pollution.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
High temperatures in the upper 90s and triple digits have been common throughout the region due to a sprawling heat dome that remains parked over the West.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Heat dome to raise temperatures A heat dome over the Southwest will push temperatures well into the triple digits in Arizona most of the week, much earlier than normal.
—CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heat dome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heat%20dome. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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