WRE News: Miami Ranks 3rd on Urban Heat Islands Study in the U.S.

Miami, FL – July 27, 2023 – Miami has been ranked as one of the hottest concrete jungles in the United States, according to a report by Climate Central, a non-profit research group.

Climate Central’s report places Miami third in terms of the worst urban heat island effect among the 44 largest U.S. cities, with New York City and San Francisco ranking above.

This high ranking is attributed to the “urban heat island effect,” which measures the rise in temperatures in cities where natural landscapes have been replaced with densely packed buildings that trap heat. The effect is particularly intense in areas like Brickell or downtown, where large buildings and fewer trees are found, compared to leafier suburbs like Coral Gables or Pinecrest.

A separate study conducted by the University of Miami and Florida International University found that certain parts of Miami-Dade County experience temperatures up to 6 degrees higher than the official readings from weather stations. In the hottest areas of Miami, this effect can raise temperatures as high as 12 degrees, with densely built-up parts of Brickell and Edgewater being the most affected.