Publication: Vox

UCLA Expert: Karen McKinnon: Assistant Professor, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability; Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics 

Synopsis: As roads, parking lots, and buildings cover natural landscapes, cities like Los Angeles and Dallas end up absorbing more heat than their surroundings and can become as much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit warmer. This is a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect.

UCLA News: Heat waves typically last around five days, but can linger longer if the high-pressure system is blocked in place. “In some cases you actually can get these kinds of patterns getting stuck, and that can lead to heat waves lasting much longer,” McKinnon said.

Read more at Vox.