"Heat islands" are worsening extreme temperatures in Richmond

As dangerously high temperatures hit Richmond this summer , a new analysis finds urban "heat islands" significantly exacerbate such extreme weather.

Why it matters: A stifling, widespread heat wave is bringing some of the hottest and most perilous temperatures of the summer to more than 40% of the U.S. population this week.

The big picture: Urban heat islands (UHI) are boosting temperatures within 65 major U.S. cities that are home to 50 million people, or 15% of the total U.S. population, according to Climate Central's analysis .

Zoom in: In the city of Richmond, more than 125,000 people live in environments where UHIs can raise summer temperatures by at least 8°F, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit climate research group.

• Roughly 14,000 Richmonders live in parts of the city where temperatures rise by at least 9°F.

Threat level: The hottest parts of Richmond include the area around MCV, north of the Fan, parts of the East End and all of downtown, per Climate Central .

• Central downtown, from Broad to Byrd Street and Fifth to 14th, is the single hottest section in town where UHIs raise the temperature by 10.49°F.
• Richmond heat islands also have few cooling centers, not enough public spaces for folks to escape the temperatures and see more heat-related incidents that require ambulances to respond.

How it works: Heat islands — urban hotspots with higher temperatures compared to surrounding areas — are created when roads, buildings, parking lots and so on "trap" heat.

• Often such neighborhoods, which tend to be poorer and predominantly Black, lack trees and plants that would otherwise help cool the area.

What they're saying: "The entire planet is warming due to human-caused climate change, but the built environment further amplifies both average temperatures and extreme heat in cities," per a Climate Central statement announcing the new data.

• Contributing factors driving the UHI index are built environments — such as roads, buildings and parking lots — a reduced percentage of green space with not enough plants to help cool the air, and dense populations.

Go deeper: Warmest June on record boosts odds of warmest year .