Why it’s been so hot and humid across the region

Why it’s been so hot and humid across the region

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The heat has been hard to escape across the region, with unseasonably high temperatures and humidity making August feel even more oppressive. The simple explanation for the prolonged heat: A persistent area of high pressure, often described as a “heat dome,” is trapping hot air near the surface. Craig Ramseyer, an associate professor at Virginia Tech, said high pressure causes air to sink. As that air sinks, it warms, hel…