Why urban heat island effect is taking a toll on the west

With a heat dome taking full force over the west, some areas are seeing more impacts than others. This is because of something known as the "Urban Heat Island Effect." Urban Heat Islands are metropolitan places that are hotter than their outlying areas, and the impacts are most felt during summer months. This is because pavement, parking lots, and buildings absorb then retain heat during the day. They then radiate that heat back into the surrounding air, amplifying the high temperature in that area.

The most extreme results of this effect are seen in large cities. Areas like Las Vegas, Nevada; Phoenix, Arizona; and Albuquerque, New Mexico are all examples of large cities currently observing this exact effect.

The factors that affect the intensity score of the effect are: Albedo, percentage of greenery, population density, building height, and average width of streets. Low albedo, low percentage of greenery, high population density, and higher building heights are all things that will maximize the Urban Heat Island Effect.