At least 40 million people across central and southern parts of the United States remained under major heat warnings on Sunday, July 27th, 2026, as a persistent heatwave brought high temperatures and severe humidity for a second consecutive day.
Heat indexes exceeding 100°F (38°C) stretched from Minnesota down to Mississippi and extended westward into southern California and Nevada. The National Weather Service forecasted parts of the southwestern US to reach highs of 120°F (49°C).
Meteorologists attributed the sweltering conditions to another heat dome, an atmospheric phenomenon that traps heat and prolongs elevated temperatures.
"It's extraordinarily hot," said Pete Miller, outreach manager for the homeless services network Threshold CoC, while distributing water bottles to residents in Omaha, Nebraska. Miller noted the dangerous exhaustion and extreme humidity affecting many people.
Rapid City, South Dakota, recorded an all-time high temperature of 112°F on Saturday, July 26th. Additionally, a horse race scheduled for Sunday at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, was canceled due to the heat.
Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, stated, "Right now, it's affecting a lot of people right in the middle of the country. The core of the heat sinks southward by early next week."
The continental US experienced its second-hottest first half of the year on record in 2026, according to data from the National Centers for Environmental Information.
Loading comments.