Meteorologists Explain Why July 'Heat Dome' Brings Flooding Rains, Damaging Winds

The July heat this year will record 5.6 to 8.3 degrees higher than the above average temperature and may last even beyond July 24. Reportedly, a number of events need to be cancelled or adjusted to shield attendees from its dangerous effect.

July heat gives fatal effect to the society when the temperature goes up high than usual. According to Mike Musher, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, July heat will be experienced over the next four days in Midwest then in the East Coast over the weekend.

Musher also said that the July heat, which is also known as the heat dome, occurs when a dome of high pressure traps the hot air underneath it. The July heat formed due to the jet stream passing over the country to Canada border prevents the cooler air from going southward.  Musher also said that this July heat is not rare though it appears to have the first sizable heat wave of the summer, Accuweather reported.

The July heat will be accompanied by high dew points so it will be humid with a heat index values into the 100s Fahrenheit from the Gulf Coast to Minneapolis until next weekend.  According to the Weather Service, the highest July heat indexes will be across the Mississippi River valley, where heat index values will be more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Des Moines and Iowa heat index are forecasted at 111 degrees Fahrenheit on July 21.

The July heat will also have severe thunderstorms. It is popularly known as 'Ring of Fire' thunderstorms. According to reports,  the "ring of fire" pattern leads to flooding rains and damaging winds. There is also a concern about the July heat's duration. It may last more than 4 days or so and leads to  the public health threat, W3 Live News reported.

July heat causes heat stroke and heat exhaustion. A severe headache without sweating, a temperature of 103, red and dry skin are some of the symptoms of heat stroke while dizziness, vomiting, weak pulse and muscle cramps in heat exhaustion.

July heat also causes the increasing number of crimes in the US.A recent study of David McDowall, who is a criminal justice professor at the University of Albany, confirmed that crimes such as homicides and other serious violent acts occur the most during summer around July and lowest around January, the winter season. He studied  the average temperatures of the 88 cities in the U.S that have a population of  200,000 or more.

If the July heat lasts more than a week, then this year's July heat will surpass the all-time monthly heat recorded in July 1936, which is during the Dust Bowl.