What is a heat dome? Breaking down the extreme heat headed to Canada

Millions of Canadians are about to experience and feel some of the hottest temperatures of this season. This could be one of our longest and hottest heat waves of the summer and meteorologist Rhythm Reed is here to break it down. Rhythm, what is a heat Dome? I think that's the question that many Canadians are asking as we look ahead at next week. Well, a heat Dome is a high pressure area that essentially traps hot ocean air. Now with it, as the high pressure compresses downwards on that warm air, it makes it even hotter, bringing with it plenty of moisture. Now through this weekend, we do have high pressure in place for Ontario as well as Quebec. A lot of the moisture is going to be on the backside of this other high pressure that's going to be leading to some severe storms. But as we head towards Monday, that's when that heat Dome is going to push into areas across the eastern end of central US. And with it, all of that moisture is going to start to spill over into Ontario and Quebec. So when we're talking about this, we are looking at that chain reaction happening. We have the Ridge that built into place. Like I mentioned, you're going to be looking at even more warmer conditions as to that hot air compresses on top of it. Then you're also not looking at any type of a relief in the overnight that we generally wait for and that increases the risk for heat stroke as we're heading into these very warm temperatures. So rhythm, let's take a look at some of the numbers, you know, on a broader picture. And in your opinion, where do you think we'll feel this heat the most? Well, southern Ontario, Windsor, like you mentioned, is definitely going to be getting the peak of this heat. But Montreal, Ottawa also looking at 35, feeling like 45. And as we take a look into Wednesday, Rachel, we're definitely going to be looking at that heat pushing into the Maritimes as well, Moncton, into Halifax as well. Now with it, I do want to highlight one thing. Those overnight temperatures that I mentioned before, even through the overnight, through Tuesday all the way to Friday, we're not going to be passing and increasing past 20°C. So you're really not going to be looking at much relief until at least a little bit later on. Now, for anyone who's thinking, OK, I don't have air conditioning, I'm not looking forward to this. Do you have any indication as to when this heat Dome may end? Well, it is going to be sticking around for a little bit of time, even when we take a look into next Saturday down towards regions of Windsor, still looking at 34, feeling like 40. But as we head into the middle of next week that next to next week rather, that's when we can start to see a little bit of relief on the way.