We Mapped Heat in 3 U.S. Cities. Some Sidewalks Were Over 130 Degrees.

5 comments

1. hi everybody — 

   we usually talk about summertime heat in terms of how hot the air is, but there’s another metric that matters: the temperatures of roads, sidewalks, buildings, parking lots and other outdoor surfaces. hot surfaces can make the places people live and work more dangerous, and can increase the risk of contact burns.

   we looked specifically at satellite images of surface temperatures across Phoenix, Sacramento and Portland, which you can access [~here, for free, even without a subscription~](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/07/17/climate/heat-map-phoenix-sacramento-portland.html?unlocked_article_code=1.700.0QAL.ehCN93ZfaWNR&smid=re-nytimes). 

2. Texas checking in. The road in front of my house has been measured at 150F+ regularly.

3. Please touch the sidewalk with your hand before taking your pets for walks. Your shoes protect your feet, but your pets feet have no such protection.

4. The sidewalk is still hot after the sun sets too. Don’t walk your animals when the sidewalk is still sizzling -Arizonan

5. Poor doggos on their walks. Get your pooch ( or cat… Stegosaurus…whatever) some little booties for their feet.