PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.
Heat dome continues to bake Texas, strain power grid
In what has seemed like a never-ending heat wave — what many weather experts are referring to as a “heat dome” — Texas temperatures continue to reach record highs for June, prompting health advisories and pleas for energy conservation.
While cities in south and west Texas continue to catch the brunt of the searing weather, most of the state is feeling the burn. Triple-digit temperatures have led to frequent heat advisories and excessive heat warnings. The city of Austin set a record for its highest heat index value of 118 degrees on June 21. And the heat isn’t expected to be going anywhere anytime soon, according to the National Weather Service.
Texas is currently situated in the middle of a heat dome, created by a strong change in ocean temperatures from west to east in the Pacific Ocean. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this weather phenomenon occurs when the atmosphere “traps hot ocean air like a lid or cap.”
The high-pressure system Texas is currently under is prevented from moving by two low-pressure systems situated over the east and west coast. This also prevents cold air from moving into the region, according to KLST Chief Meteorologist Kris Boone. For this reason, triple- digit temperatures are likely to continue this week for the majority of the state.
The NWS’s social media channels put out a series of extreme heat safety tips on Sunday, June 25, recommending that residents try to limit strenuous outdoor activities, stay hydrated and never leave pets or children in cars unattended.
“Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year,” NWS stated.
On June 20, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas — Texas’ grid operator — asked residents to use less electricity between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. as the demand for power soared because of high temperatures. Demand ultimately rose above 79,000 megawatts, just below the record for highest energy use — 80,148 megawatts — set July 2022.