During the summer between 6-7 pm is the time I feel most alive. As I finish my job, I look towards my mom. She smiles and nods as I grab my stuff and start walking home. Walking home after work is such a vibe. These thirty minute walks home help me clear my mind and ease my body as I feel the cool summer breeze and observe the setting sun (Testimony from Jayden). But these walks home are at risk because of the rising heat caused by climate change. According to federal climate projections, average annual temperatures in Hampton Roads could rise to 78 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century—significantly higher than the 1960–1990 average of 68.7 degrees. As time passes, we will need to adapt quickly to a future of hotter seasons. For instance, those who stay after school for sports will need bigger water bottles to stay away from dehydration and people will be incentive to stay indoors and not touch grass. But what happens when staying indoors isn’t an option, and someone must rely on the surrounding environment for protection from the heat? Well, they’re cooked.

The feeling of stepping outside on a scorching day is an experience of all time—imagine chilling inside then getting a notification. Your friends are here. You quickly get ready and open the door. Then you feel yourself melt as the sun beats you. This is a common experience in urban areas, where much of the natural environment has been ripped and replaced by buildings, roads, and other man-made structures. These surfaces capture and hold heat, creating high temperature pockets around the city. This phenomenon is known as the urban heat island effect (UHI) . According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), UHI causes “daytime temperatures in urban areas to be about 1–7 degrees Fahrenheit higher than temperatures in outlying areas and nighttime temperatures about 2–5 degrees higher”. Heat islands are most common in dense, high-development areas such as industrial zones and cities, but they can also occur in places like schools, where natural landscapes have been altered.

The negative impacts of the urban heat island effect are widespread. For instance, UHIs can harm the environment by heating runoff water. When this warmed runoff enters natural waterways, it raises water temperatures, which stresses aquatic life and reduces reproductive success. According to the EPA, temperature surges in urban streams can be as much as 18 degrees Fahrenheit higher due to heated runoff.  Effects on aquatic life can hurt fishing in the Hampton roads as a hobby and an industry.  Another consequence of UHIs is increased energy usage. As cities heat up, residents rely more heavily on air conditioning. The heat will have big impacts on many things like older equipment malfunction or students feeling uncomfortable. Air conditioning is something many take for granted. Imagine going to school, Mr. Denvir is talking about hit rock band Goose, and you’re trying not to zone out. But not only are you listening to him talk about Goose, you are covered in sweat trying not to die. Not only that, but air conditioning has a cost. Higher usage of AC will increase heat released into the environment, worsening the local heat problem , but also increasing greenhouse gas emissions from the energy required—further causing global warming. 

Additionally, the impacts of UHIs are not experienced equally. Lower-income communities are more likely to live in areas with less vegetation and more pavement, making them more vulnerable to extreme heat. In her article “How hot does it get in Portsmouth? New mapping project aims to find out,” reporter Katherine Hafner of WHRO writes, “Planners usually invested in green spaces only for wealthier and whiter neighborhoods. Surfaces like concrete and asphalt, which often predominate lower-income communities, absorb the sun and make the surrounding environment warmer”.

One of the biggest concerns related to the UHI is its impact on human health. As the planet warms, people become more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Babies will die of heat stroke, dogs get baked in the car,  Dina Weinstein of VCU News reports that researchers have found nearly 2,000 additional heat-related hospital admissions each summer in Virginia. These hospitalizations are often due to heat exhaustion, dehydration, or heat stroke. Vulnerable groups include outdoor workers, the homeless, elderly individuals, pregnant women, and students who walk and bike to school. A study published in GeoHealth notes, “Chronic exposures can lead to a gradual onset of symptoms, such as dehydration. Even short, acute exposures to extreme heat can result in a medical emergency in vulnerable people who have underlying health concerns”. Aside from health effects, the urban heat island effect discourages outdoor activity by making the environment uncomfortable—or even dangerous—thereby reducing the likelihood of “going outside”.

Fortunately, there are several ways cities can cool their neighborhoods and make them more livable. One of the most effective strategies is to replace hard, heat-absorbing surfaces with natural ones. For example, the City of Chesapeake, Virginia, notes in its Greenbrier Business District area plan that 40% of the land is covered by surface parking lots. This is not unusual—many American cities are dominated by surface parking, much like Tallwood. A practical solution is to plant trees at underused parking spots. . Trees are highly effective at cooling their surroundings by providing shade, deflecting solar radiation, and releasing moisture into the air. They also improve air quality. Local organizations like Capital Trees in Richmond, VA can help plant trees in areas with low vegetation. Cities can also implement heat refuges—designated places where people can cool down during extreme heat events. These can include air-conditioned public spaces such as bus shelters, library lobbies, and community centers. By improving access to these spaces, cities can protect vulnerable populations and reduce heat-related health risks.

The urban heat island effect is just one of many growing side effects of our warming climate, but it impacts a wide range of issues—from wildlife health to human well-being. As it becomes more of a public health concern, further research is needed on its long-term risks and preventative measures. For example, researchers could explore whether prolonged heat exposure increases the risk of skin cancer or contributes to a decline in life expectancy. Local governments must also take action. There should be a regional plan to conduct heat-mapping studies among all cities.