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DALLAS -In summer 2023, The City of Dallas and 18 other communities joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to collect data to map where people are most at risk during extreme heat events. The Urban Heat Island (UHI) mapping campaign addresses extreme heat, the number one weather-related cause of death in the U.S. for the last three decades. Urban heat islands — areas with fewer trees and more pavement that absorbs heat — can be up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than nearby neighborhoods with more trees, grass and less black asphalt.
On August 5, 2023, approximately 70 community volunteers recorded ambient temperature and humidity data as they drove nine routes covering 103.3 square miles of the City. Volunteers mounted sensors onto their vehicles to capture data at three different times of the day – morning, afternoon, and evening. Volunteers took 60,040 measurements on campaign day, and the max differential temperature was 10 F. The maximum temperature recorded was 110.1 F.
Community members in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods, which typically have less greenspace, often have greater health concerns and are at greater risk of heat related impacts. The objectives of the study were to identify these areas of our city, develop high resolution maps of air temperature and heat index, and ultimately better understand and address the risks from extreme heat.
The hottest areas include:
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Love Field
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Medical District
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Uptown
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Oak Lawn
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Downtown
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Deep Ellum
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Design District
- West Dallas
- Bishop Arts
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Stemmons/Market Center
The hottest areas were also examined for environmental justice (EJ) concerns. The areas identified in bold contain EJ neighborhoods. This additional information is critical to better serve our communities, and data will be used to provide heat solutions in the City of Dallas.
The Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability plans to map the remainder of the city in summer 2024.
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