Main causes of a heat dome

Heat domes are caused by special patterns in the way air moves high up in the sky. These patterns are part of our planet's weather system.

The main cause of a heat dome is high pressure in the atmosphere. This is an area where the air pressure is higher than the areas around it. This high pressure acts like a cap, trapping hot air underneath.

High-pressure systems often bring clear skies and calm weather. The sun keeps shining through the clear skies, heating the ground and the air even more. With nowhere for the hot air to go, it just keeps getting hotter.

In a heat dome, a very strong high-pressure system gets stuck in one place. It's like a big, invisible mountain of air that doesn't want to move.

Sometimes, changes in ocean temperatures can help create the conditions for a heat dome. When ocean water is warmer than usual, it can cause the air above it to heat up too. This warm air can then move over land, creating a heat dome. Climate change can make heat domes more common and intense.