New term has been added to the lexicon of the media to explain a high heat advisory, but hasn’t been approved by the national weather service glossary
Just a few weeks ago, the term “heat dome” may have evoked, if anything at all, thoughts of a rather bland Mad Max sequel. But the phrase is now being deployed to label a huge blob of heat that is encasing millions of Americans.
Although not an official term, a “heat dome” is created when high pressure in the upper atmosphere acts as a sort of lid, preventing hot air from escaping. Combined with high temperatures, this causes hot air to sink to the surface, causing further warming as it descends.
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Source: Guardian Environment