By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

Published: 15:43 BST, 27 June 2026 | Updated: 15:44 BST, 27 June 2026

Millions have been warned to brace for a potential 'Ring of Fire' weather pattern as a powerful heat dome develops across parts of the US.

Meteorologists said the storm corridor will begin taking shape as early as Monday, developing along the northern edge of the expanding dome of high pressure before shifting east through the week.

AccuWeather's senior meteorologist Chad Merril' told the Daily Mail: 'Ring of Fire refers to the arc of instability along the periphery of the high pressure in which you have the best opportunity for thunderstorm development.'

The greatest risk is expected to target Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Richmond, Virginia and New York City, where residents could face clusters of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds.

Merrill said the threat will then migrate from the Upper Midwest into the Great Lakes before reaching the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic by Thursday.

The volatile storm pattern will unfold while millions endure dangerous heat and humidity beneath the growing heat dome, creating a combination of oppressive temperatures and explosive weather.

The heat dome is expected to begin developing on Sunday before strengthening through early next week and expanding northward into the Midwest.

'Typically, under these heat domes, there's little in the way of air circulation,' Merrill said. 'What you tend to see is the potential for air quality alerts to develop, especially in urban areas, so we could see some poor air quality develop next week.'