Roads in multiple states are cracking and deforming due to abnormally high temperatures.

June 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM CDT

It's a sweltering mess in multiple states across the eastern U.S., with a heat dome bringing dangerously high temperatures and humidity to nearly 150 million folks! And guess what? The stifling heat has even got our roads buckling like a hot biscuit!

The Department of Transportation in Wisconsin reported more than 50 pavement buckles, and in Missouri, a car went airborne after hitting a buckled road bump! Delaware's DOT is in the repair process for seven roads that've been buckled in the past few days.

Now, this isn't exactly common. According to Amit Bhasin, director of the Center for Transportation Research at UT Austin: "If you've designed and built a road correctly, this shouldn't happen. But it does occur every now and then."

You see, there are two types of roads: asphalt and concrete. Most roads are made of asphalt, which can get soft and start rutting in extreme heat due to its flexibility. But the majority of buckling incidents reported in the news involve concrete roads.

So, how does this darn heat cause our roads to warp like a taffy pull? Bhasin explains: "When solid materials, like concrete, heat up, they expand. Concrete roads tend to expand under high temperatures."

You got concrete joints in between panels to help handle the temperature fluctuations. These joints open and close as temperatures change. However, during periods of extreme heat, like this current heatwave, the concrete might expand more than the available space allowed by the joints.

"If your concrete isn't designed to handle a certain temperature, or suddenly you have an extraordinary heat wave, then it's got no place to go," says Bhasin. "Then what it's going to do is start pushing against the concrete panel from the other side of the joint and start moving into each other, causing breaking and buckling."

And folks, these heatwaves ain't going nowhere. Scientists tell us that human-caused climate change is making them more intense. Heatwaves are lasting longer and peaking at higher temperatures than before.

Every state designs its roads differently, depending on the typical weather. Texas might have roads designed to handle 110°F (about 43°C) temperatures, but states less accustomed to extreme heat might have fewer roads prepared for it.

Time for Some Safety Tips!

Bhasin says a bit of road failure is acceptable because it's not as hazardous as damage to buildings. But if there's too much cracking on the roads, tell your local agency. Early intervention and repairs are crucial.

And watch out for loose pieces of concrete. It might seem trivial, but they could hit your windshield and become a hazard. If you notice chipping or large chunks of concrete falling loose, keep your eyes peeled!

Olivia Hampton edited the radio version of the story. Majd Al-Waheidi edited the digital version of the story

Enrichment Data Adaptations

During periods of extreme heat, concrete roads expand beyond available space in expansion joints due to thermal expansion, causing slabs to push against one another, forming cracks or bumps called heat buckles.

This phenomenon mainly affects older roadways, as the expansion joints may have deteriorated over time, and areas where water penetration has weakened the pavement structure. Buckling can also be exacerbated by heavy traffic.

Preventive measures include maintaining expansion joints, selecting materials with better thermal properties, regular monitoring, timely repairs, and improvements in construction techniques, such as providing larger joint spacing and using reinforcements.

Weather forecasts can predict heatwaves, allowing transportation agencies to closely monitor road conditions, carry out proactive maintenance, and perform timely repairs to ensure road safety and longevity.

The current heatwave, exacerbated by human-caused climate change, is causing concern as roads are buckling due to thermal expansion of concrete, especially in older roadways.
In weather forecasting, anticipating heatwaves allows transportation agencies to monitor road conditions, perform proactive maintenance, and make timely repairs to ensure road safety and longevity.
Amit Bhasin, director of the Center for Transportation Research at UT Austin, explains that when concrete expands beyond the space available in expansion joints due to extreme heat, it can cause the slabs to push against one another, forming cracks or bumps known as heat buckles.
Maintaining expansion joints, selecting materials with better thermal properties, regular monitoring, timely repairs, and improvements in construction techniques, such as providing larger joint spacing and using reinforcements, can help mitigate the occurrence of heat buckles on roads.