What to know about the upcoming heat wave
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A heat dome will envelope much of the U.S., including Pittsburgh, bringing temperatures that will feel above 100 degrees next week.
Threat level: An unseasonably hot air mass will form over the Midwest and East Coast, pushing Pittsburgh into "extreme risk" of high heat for parts of the week, according to the National Weather Service.
By the numbers: Pittsburgh will likely see four straight days of highs in the mid-90s between Sunday and Wednesday, according to Matt Brudy, meteorologist at the Pittsburgh office of the National Weather Service.
- Heat index values — or "feels like" temperatures — could get up to 105 degrees.
What they're saying: "That is dangerous heat," he said.
- Highs will be about 10–12 degrees hotter than normal for summer, and arriving very early in the season, said Brudy.
Zoom in: That level of heat and humidity brings the possibility of isolated thunderstorms that tend to pop up starting in the afternoons, according to Brudy.
- He said those storms are usually quick with intense rainfall, but aren't typically as damaging as the storms the region saw in late April, which formed along a cold front.
Brudy recommended staying inside as much as you can.
- Also, check in on older people and other vulnerable populations to make sure they have access to cooling centers.
What's next: The heat dome isn't expected to extend into the weekend of June 28-29, and temperatures should cool to more manageable levels by the end of next week, said Brudy.