A strengthening heat dome is poised to bake much of the central and western United States through next week, with forecasters warning that temperatures could soar well above 110 degrees and threaten records across more than 30 states.

The sprawling high-pressure system is expected to intensify over the weekend before expanding across the Plains, Rockies, and Gulf Coast, bringing prolonged stretches of dangerous heat and increasing concerns about drought in parts of the nation's agricultural heartland.

The National Weather Service warned, "Dangerous heat is building across parts of the West and Central U.S. through this weekend and will expand into the Central U.S. and Gulf Coast early next week."

The agency also cautioned that portions of the Plains and Midwest, including parts of the Corn Belt, face a risk of "rapid onset drought."

Heat domes develop when a large, slow-moving area of high pressure traps hot air near the ground, allowing temperatures to build for days. Forecasters say this latest system is expected to become one of the strongest globally this weekend before spreading eastward.

Citing projections from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, The Washington Post reported that some of the nation's hottest readings through Wednesday could reach 121 degrees in California, 120 in Arizona, 115 in Nevada, 113 in Kansas, and 112 in both Oklahoma and Texas.

South Dakota could see highs near 109 degrees, while temperatures above 105 degrees are forecast across parts of Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming. Even Iowa and Wisconsin are expected to top 100 degrees.

Forecasters also warn that oppressive humidity will make conditions even more dangerous across the Plains and Gulf Coast, where high moisture levels are expected to drive heat index values well above the actual air temperature.

The latest heat wave follows a summer already marked by repeated bouts of extreme heat. Earlier this month, a separate heat dome set records across the eastern United States, while another drove temperatures as high as 115 degrees in Montana.

The southern Plains are expected to remain under the heat dome through much of next week before the system gradually shifts toward the West Coast. Until then, forecasters say dozens of daily high-temperature records could be challenged as much of the country endures another prolonged stretch of intense summer heat.