Most of the nation is under a heat advisory. Experts are using the term heat dome, which conjures up images of the United States trapped in a cosmic Dutch oven.

What is a Heat Dome?

This year, we've been under a formidable heat dome that feels like it's been cooking most of the country. The heat dome is an atmospheric high-pressure system that pulls warm air toward the ground and traps it.

Drink water and stay hydrated in Arizona heat.
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The regions under the "dome" experience the sweltering heat that's beginning to shatter weather records.

READ: Record Smashing Heat Dome Could Make Arizona Even Hotter

Drink water and stay hydrated in Arizona heat.
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Arizona's Elderly Are More Susceptible to Heat-Related Illnesses

Arizona is currently being impacted by this extreme weather. Phoenix's temperatures are expected to be around 112 degrees Fahrenheit by next week. When temperatures soar, heat-related hospital visits tend to spike, especially for the elderly.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), older adults may have a more difficult time adapting to extreme temperature changes as they age. Chronic medical conditions and medications can also change how their bodies respond to heat.

Drinking Water: How to Stay Safe in the Extreme Heat in Arizona

The best way to combat the effects of heat-related stress and illness is to run air conditioning units as much as possible. Even more importantly, experts stress the importance of staying hydrated.

Drink water and stay hydrated in Arizona heat.
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Experts at the American Red Cross recommend drinking at least three-fourths of a gallon of water daily. The CDC breaks it down further, suggesting adults drink one cup of water every fifteen to twenty minutes during heat exposure.

READ: Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe in Arizona's Summer Heat

Thankfully, the heat won't last forever, but until we see some relief, stay hydrated and check on your neighbors, especially the elderly and infirmed.

[ Sources: Science Alert | Earth Observatory/Nasa | Newsweek | Phys.org | Red Cross | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ]

25 costliest hurricanes of all time

Although the full extent of damage caused by Hurricane Ian in the Southwest is still being realized, Ian is already being called one of the costliest storms to ever hit the U.S. Stacker took a look at NOAA data to extrapolate the costliest U.S. hurricanes of all time.  

LOOK: The most extreme temperatures in the history of every state

Stacker consulted 2021 data from the NOAA's State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) to illustrate the hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in each state. Each slide also reveals the all-time highest 24-hour precipitation record and all-time highest 24-hour snowfall.

Keep reading to find out individual state records in alphabetical order.

Gallery Credit: Anuradha Varanasi

 

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