Beat the Heat

Spokane Beat the Heat is an initiative of Gonzaga University's Center for Climate, Society, and the Environment to help our community understand and respond to the impacts of extreme summer heat.
The Spokane Riverfront Park clocktower with a brilliant orange and blue background sky reflecting off the river.

Photo Credit - Kirk Fisher

In the Spring of 2022, the Gonzaga Climate Center was awarded a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization’s (NOAA) National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) to conduct a community science urban heat island mapping campaign in July of 2022. This opportunity will allow the City of Spokane to study the impacts of extreme heat in Spokane and develop local strategies to alleviate the impacts of heat on the community. The second phase of the project will then be to conduct a community survey to understand perceptions of urban heat and extreme heat events in Spokane. Using these quantitative and qualitative data, we can begin to make both short- and long-term plans for extreme heat events to be more resilience to our changing climate. Read the press release. 

NOAA Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaigns: 2022 Locations

EXTREME HEAT IN SPOKANE

Extreme heat in Spokane refers to days with temperatures at or above 90° Fahrenheit and nights with temperatures at or above 68° Fahrenheit. On hot days and nights, people are at risk for heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Some parts of the community are more vulnerable to extreme heat than others; this includes seniors, young children, pregnant women, people with certain health conditions, low-income communities, communities of color, people without access to air conditioning, and outdoor workers.

To date, extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the US, responsible for more deaths each year than hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding. The CDC reports that every year in the US an average of 65,000 Americans are admitted into emergency rooms1 and more than 600 are killed2 due to extreme heat-related illness. Heat-related deaths and illnesses are preventable. In addition to preparing residents for the high summer temperatures that are common in the Inland Northwest , Spokane Beat the Heat will also work with partners to reduce the impacts of urban heat islands and prepare the community for future rising temperatures.

"Extreme heat kills more Americans than any other weather event and has the greatest impact on our nation's most vulnerable communities," said Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves. "Fortunately, our talented and dedicated researchers and scientists at NOAA are working directly with communities across the country to help them take action to manage extreme heat. As climate change worsens heat waves, this critical information will help bring local and equitable solutions for those facing the greatest threats."

In 2021 at least 19 Spokane County residents died due to the unprecedented “heat dome.”
Read more

URBAN HEAT ISLANDS

On sunny days, dark building materials like concrete, asphalt, and dark rooftops retain more heat from light, causing those surfaces and surrounding areas to be hotter. As a result, areas with more buildings and parking lots often experience higher temperatures due to the urban heat island effect. However, strategies like increasing green space, trees, and using lighter-colored building materials can help cool down these heat islands. The urban heat island effect is made worse by climate change. It is not a cause of climate change.3

On July 16th, 2022 over 85 community members volunteered from across the City to help map urban heat islands. During the mapping campaign, 7 of the 17 heat mapping routes (more than 40%) were conducted in electric vehicles. The heat mapping campaign covered the City of Spokane and the maps will be shared here by mid-September.

COMMUNITY SURVEY

Calling all Spokane residents! We need your help to understand how community members experience extreme heat in Spokane by taking our survey. 
Help us understand perceptions of extreme heat and be entered to win men's or women's Gonzaga basketball tickets!
Take the Survey

SUPPORT EXTREME HEAT PLANNING

You can have an impact through the Climate Resilience Project by making a gift of support.
DONATE NOW

RESOURCES

PARTNERS

The urban heat island mapping project is a collaborative effort involving: 

1  USGCRP (U.S. Global Change Research Program). 2016. The impacts of climate change on human health in the United States: A scientific assessment. https://health2016.globalchange.gov.
2  CDC, "Natural Disasters, Severe Weather, and COVID-19," https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/index.html
3  Skeptical Science, "Does Urban Heat Island effect exaggerate global warming trends?" https://skepticalscience.com/urban-heat-island-effect.htm