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(NEXSTAR) – Two heat domes are preparing to join forces, sending temperatures soaring around the U.S. next week.
The first heat dome is developing in the southwest while the second is forming over the subtropical Atlantic, said Jeff Berardelli, chief meteorologist at Nexstar’s WFLA.
They’ll be replaced by one larger heat dome set to park itself over the center of the U.S. by the Fourth of July holiday.
“This could be the first widespread, significant heat wave of 2026 for much of the South and Midwest,” said Nexstar meteorologist Blake Matthews. “Unlike the record-breaking heat that scorched the desert southwest earlier this year, this event is targeting areas that haven’t experienced prolonged extreme temperatures yet this season.”
Heat domes are basically high-pressure weather systems that trap heat and humidity in one area for a few days.
“A strong, upper-level high-pressure cell acts like a lid on the atmosphere, compressing and heating the air while also suppressing cloud development and rainfall. That means not only hotter temperatures, but very little relief in the way of rain-cooled air,” Matthews explained.
See how the high-pressure systems are expected to move, bringing hotter temperatures with them, between Saturday, June 26, and Saturday, July 4, in the maps below.
The high-pressure ridge starts to build in Texas and neighboring states on Saturday, June 26. 
By Tuesday, June 30, the hottest area of high pressure moves over the Midwest. 
By the Fourth of July holiday the heat wave extends out west and affects dozens of states.
What this translates into is a bit of a “July fry,” Matthew said. Temperatures in the 90s and 100s will be widespread at the start of the month, with some areas having heat indexes topping 105.
The heat will likely start in south this weekend, with a bullseye over the Gulf Coast. By Monday, Matthews forecasts a heat dome will start influencing weather across the Midwest and greater South.
The hot zone only grows larger from there. “By Wednesday, July 1, the high is centered over St. Louis with its effects felt from the Great Lakes to Texas. By Saturday, July 4, the ridge is centered nearly over Chicago with widespread 90s likely from Wisconsin to the East Coast to the Gulf Coast.”
The heat spreads west by the Fourth of July weekend. The darker the shade of red, the more likely temperatures are to be above normal.
NOAA’s longer range forecast shows expected temperatures in the first few days of July. The darker the shade of red, the more likely temperatures are to be above normal.
The exact location of the heat dome’s center may move by the time we get closer to the holiday weekend, but the takeaway is the same pretty much everywhere: It’s going to be hot. With such an extended heat wave, it’s important to take safety precautions, including drinking lots of water, avoiding outdoor exercise, and staying in cool areas as much as possible.
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