Despite the implementation of stringent emission reduction measures in China since 2013, ozone (O3) pollution remains a serious concern. Many O3 pollution processes are accompanied by the explosive growth of O3 concentration, meanwhile this explosive growth will trigger O3 pollution with a high probability. This study investigates the chemical and physical mechanisms behind the explosive growth of O3 in the summer within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region based on the atmospheric circulation clustering and WRF-CMAQ simulation. Ninety-four instances of O3 explosions from the summer of 2014–2021 were selected based on their day-to-day variation in O3 concentration, and the corresponding meteorological conditions were classified into four clusters using K-means analysis. Cluster 1 revealed that large-scale regional transmission of O3 and its precursors from the southern BTH region led to a renewed burst of O3 growth based on mild pollution. Nighttime reduction in NO2 concentration decreases titration consumption, causing a nocturnal rise in O3 concentration, detectable through observed data and progress analysis. In Cluster 2 and Cluster 3, the BTH region is located in the northeast wind area ahead of the ridge and northly wind area of post-trough situation, respectively. The vertical downward motion with the markable increase in surface solar radiation (SSR), 2-m temperature (T2M), and decrease in relative humidity (RH) contribute to photochemical O3 generation. Additionally, enhancements in boundary layer stability and reductions in dry deposition and vertical diffusion are favorable for the O3 accumulation. Cluster 4 showed the explosive growth after rainfall event, with the largest increment. The post-rain increase in SSR and T2M, coupled with decreased RH, promotes photochemical O3 formation. Moreover, progress analysis reveals the reduced cloud cover slows down O3 removal, contributing to O3 accumulation. The dominant mechanism behind the explosive growth of O3 will provide certain guidance for the prediction of O3.