Temperatures in the high 90s forecast for New Jersey as heat dome headed our way

A massive heat dome dominating the eastern half of the United States will spread across the South and Midwest before reaching the East Coast on Tuesday, June 18.

Across New Jersey, temperatures might oscillate between the mid- to upper 90s, said meteorologist Rob Reale from WeatherWorks, a New Jersey-based meteorology company.

What is a heat dome?

A heat dome is similar to a heat wave. The difference is that heat is not limited to surface temperature — it expands into the atmosphere, thousands of feet above the surface. Because the heat extends up into the atmosphere in the shape of a bubble, it's referred to as dome, Reale said.

Heat domes are not uncommon. A heat dome is technically also considered a heat wave, Reale said.

The main element that characterizes a heat dome is how stagnant or how slow they pass over a region. They are also high pressure systems, which generally keep rain away.

When is the heat dome coming to NJ?

The coming heat dome should affect the New Jersey region from Tuesday, June 18, through Thursday, June 20.

"It will start getting warmer on Monday," Reale said. "But it looks like the hottest period where we could potentially see that heat wave would be really centered in the middle part of next week. Tuesday to Thursday would be the hottest stretch."

How hot is NJ going to get during the heat dome?

Across the state, temperatures should fluctuate between the mid- and uppers 90s. The Newark and Philadelphia metropolitan areas should register the highest temperatures.

The Jersey Shore, on the other hand, should see cooler temperatures in the 80s as sea breezes tend to cool off the area. Nevertheless, lower temperatures at the Shore will come at the expense of increased humidity.

"Relatively cooler temps, say 80s instead of 90s, kind of comes at the expense of increased humidity, so it still feels really nasty and sticky down on the Shore, even though it's not quite as hot."

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: When is the heat dome reaching NJ? How hot at the Shore