heat dome

noun

plural heat domes

: a large weather pattern characterized by high atmospheric pressure that collects and holds an unusual amount of heat over a particular area

Examples of heat dome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

High temps have peaked, but heat still lingers The heat wave this weekend was due to an intense heat dome — a mass of high pressure all the way through the higher altitudes of the atmosphere — peaking over Southern California. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026

This summer has seen multiple heat domes affect the US and Europe. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2026

Forecasters say a large heat dome is settling over California, pushing temperatures into the triple digits across inland areas and raising wildfire concerns just as August begins. — James Ward, USA Today, 31 July 2026

The fire comes as the region swelters under a heat dome and warnings of extreme heat — and heat can help fire move faster. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heat dome

• biome
• genome
• nichrome
• noisome
• prodrome
• radome
• rhizome
• shalom
• syndrome
• acrosome
• aerodrome
• catacomb