The Brief
- Neighborhoods in Philadelphia experience extreme heat differently, with some areas much hotter than others.
- Urban heat islands can make certain blocks up to 15 degrees hotter, according to city officials.
- The city is testing cool pavement technology and offering free trees to help lower temperatures.
PHILADELPHIA – Some neighborhoods in Philadelphia are feeling the heat more than others, as urban heat islands drive up temperatures well above the city average, according to city officials.
How urban heat islands make some blocks hotter
What we know:
Urban heat islands form when concrete, blacktop and buildings absorb and trap heat, making some neighborhoods significantly hotter than others, according to city officials.
Jesse Saunders, who lives in Kensington, said, “It’s basically become desolate like people can’t hang out here when you are in an area with trees people are playing games on the street.”…