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A heatwave is caused by a system of higher atmospheric pressure. In a high pressure system, air from upper levels of the atmosphere descends and rotates outward. As it comes down, it becomes compressed, which increases its temperature and dries it out. The outward flow also makes it difficult for other systems to enter the area.

Especially in summer months, a high pressure system can be very large and slow-moving, sometimes seeming to "park" in an area for a period of days or weeks. When this happens, there is a process of continual heating over time. In the most central part of a high pressure system, winds can be very light or nonexistent.

Since clouds are kept out of the region, sunlight is strong and heats up the land even more. The combination of no wind, low humidity and unimpeded sunlight can heat up a given location to temperatures significantly higher than normal. This is called a heatwave.

Heatwaves are dangerous for humans and animals. In addition, heatwaves can cause economic damage and threaten resources, as water and electricity usages go up much higher than usual.

Answer

Heat waves form when an air mass becomes stationary over a region. Hot humid air masses form over the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea while hot dry air masses form over the desert Southwest and northern Mexico. In the Eastern United States a heat wave occurs when a high pressure system originating in the Gulf of Mexico becomes stationary just off the Atlantic Seaboard (typically known as a Bermuda High.) The SW winds on the back side of the High continue to pump hot, humid Gulf air Northeastward resulting in a spell of hot and humid weather for much of the Eastern States.
A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity

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