Help Me Understand Heat Domes
Read Time: 4 min 43 sec | Listen to Podcast | Watch on YouTube
─────── July 11, 2026 ───────
Happy Saturday!
If you were one of nearly 200 million Americans (or a visiting European) who had an extra sweaty 4th of July, you might have heard the term “heat dome” thrown around a lot. And if you’re anything like us, you might be thinking, “what’s a heat dome, and how do we pop it?” (you can’t pop it… we checked ☹️). So, we went and learned a thing or two. Scroll down for the link to watch KA and Kathleen discuss!
Put on your meteorological hats, and let’s take a shallow dive into heat domes.
New here? TPO Explains does a shallow dive into your most-asked questions every Saturday. Reply and let us know what you want to learn next week!
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“For God is good—or rather, of all goodness He is the Fountainhead.”
St. Athanasius of Alexandria
BREWING QUESTIONS
WHAT YOU’RE ASKING
What even is a heat dome?
It’s a large area of high pressure in the atmosphere that parks above a region (rude) and traps heat beneath it for days at a time. Think: putting a lid on a pot of boiling water. The lid pushes the heat down and as it sinks, it compresses, gets even hotter, and has nowhere to go.
Heat domes also keep rain clouds from forming, since moist air has to rise high enough to condense, and nothing is rising on the dome’s watch. In already dry places, that means a higher wildfire risk on top of the sweat.
Is it the same thing as a heat wave?
Yes, and also no.
A heat wave is a broader term for an extended period of hotter-than-normal temps in an area. A heat dome is one specific way to get a heat wave. Once it’s parked, it becomes a feedback loop of sinking hot air, sunny days, no rain, and… well, we all get real sweaty.
In other words, every heat dome is a heat wave but not every heat wave is a heat dome, capiche?
How do heat domes form?
Blame the jet streams: fast-moving rivers of air in the atmosphere.
They usually flow in unproblematic wavy lines, but sometimes they grow into big, slow loops and stall out. That stall allows high pressure to build, and the sinking-heating cycle takes it from there.
How do you get rid of a heat dome?
You can’t… you just wait it out.
Eventually, the jet streams will correct themselves or another weather system will overpower them, but until then, be sure to stock up on ice cream and stay in the shade (oh, and make sure to drink tons of LMNT*).
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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
When we face major weather events like heat domes or severe storms, we’re reminded of our weakness. But our God is the creator of the weather, and He holds us by the hand. He will protect us and keep us.
“This is what God, the LORD, says—who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it—‘I am the LORD. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,’”
Isaiah 42:5-6 (CSB) (read full passage)
*LMNT is a paid partner of TPO. But I mean, come on, we had to mention them this week.
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HOUSE BLEND
WHAT YOU’LL ENJOY
Thinking semi-critically about this week’s TPO Mini Crossword!
Wind in Patagonia > wind anywhere else.
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WHAT YOU’VE BEAN CLICKING…
Top News Article: Pics of the largest fireworks show “in the history of the world,” of course.
Top Christian Perspective: A reminder for you, whether you’re feeling loved or left out. Download and save it here. Share with a friend!
Top Whipped Cream: Ya’ll ever heard of the navy seals?
TAKE IT TO GO
WHAT WE’RE RECOMMENDING
My Home’s Making the Best First Impressions
Thanks to Aura House*
“Wow, it smells fresh in here.” Those were my son’s friend’s exact words when he walked in our house the other day… all thanks to my new Aura House diffuser.
Their cold-air diffusers release a clean, even fragrance without using heat, flame, or water (so no soot, melted wax, or kid or pet hazards to worry about). It’s Sephora Clean-certified so I’m not worried about it filling my air with junk. Plus I can set my diffusing schedule in the app, so it’s easy to always make the best first impression.
Use code TPO10 for 10% off if you want guests to ask, “What smells so good?”
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*From our partners
WHAT WE’RE PRAYING
A Prayer for Refuge
God my Refuge, as the world roars and churns and sows the seeds of panic and distress, You are my safe haven. You are my Rock, my fortress, my hiding place. As the cares of the world confront me, deliver me from fear and keep me in Your perfect peace. Still my unrest with Your power; satisfy me with Your provision; stabilize me with Your presence.
Amen.
LEARN WITH US
Each week, we do the deep shallow dive so that you don’t have to. We bring what we learn not only to this email, but we sit down and talk about it, too. Check out this week’s episode of TPO Explains... just click on the episode below.
