A dangerous stretch of extreme heat is bearing down on the central United States this weekend and into next week, and Colorado Springs residents are not expected to be spared.

Dangerously hot weather will expand across much of the central United States this weekend and into next week, pushing temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit from Dallas to North Dakota, with roughly 70 million people facing heat advisories. Some records around the Denver area may be broken, forecasters said, with temperatures expected to run 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit above what is considered normal.

A heat dome occurs when atmospheric conditions trap heat, creating sustained high temperatures and accumulating discomfort. A huge stretch of the country will endure the oppressive midsummer weather, stretching from the desert Southwest to the Gulf Coast and reaching up into the Midwest and Great Plains. High humidity will make conditions feel even worse.

The duration of the heat event is a central concern for health officials and forecasters. Overnight low temperatures are not expected to drop enough for people to have much chance to recover, allowing heat stress to build as the bad weather lingers, forecasters said. "It looks like it is going to be pretty much stationary in that position as we go through the week," said Bob Oravec, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. There might be some relief in the central United States toward next weekend, but even that might be temporary, he said.

This is the latest miserable stretch of weather during a summer that has already had a lot of it. The eastern United States endured an unbearably hot early July that forced communities to cancel Independence Day celebrations and disrupted the country's 250th anniversary, and another heat wave in mid-July hit the Southwest and Great Plains. The weather will shift somewhat through the week, with the worst pockets of heat becoming particularly severe across Texas and parts of the Gulf Coast by Wednesday.

Local residents — particularly vulnerable groups — are urged to take precautions throughout the event. Children and the elderly, along with those with medical conditions, are especially at risk of serious conditions including heat stroke. People should seek out air conditioning or a cooling center, make sure they drink enough water, and limit time under the direct sun.

Forecasters and local emergency management officials have not yet confirmed whether additional cooling resources will be opened in El Paso County, and residents should monitor updates from the city as the heat dome settles in through the coming week.