TYLER, Texas — You may have heard the term "heat dome" used by forecasters and meteorologists during the summer. But, what is a heat dome?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a heat dome occurs when the atmosphere traps hot ocean air like a lid or cap.
A "heat dome" is a stand-in name for the hottest air beneath a ridge of high pressure.
When looking at upper-level winds, we are going up in the atmosphere around 35,000 ft., where the storm track is. The winds around a ridge flow clockwise, which allows the air to sink and is an explanation for clearer skies. As that air sinks it compresses and warms, and is called simply enough "compressional warming."
Air sinking to the surface warms, and because these patterns often become stagnant, each day the air warms more and more creating a string of days with dangerous heat.
As the ridge moves on, retreating further south and becoming less amplified, the dome moves and with it extreme temperatures.
Thankfully after this week East Texas will get relief from the triple digits and cool off a bit with rain chances on the way.
But don't get to comfortable, because the heat dome only retreats for so long before it kicks back up again and we get another visit from the triple-digit Texas heat.