Results from a one-day heat mapping project, conducted by Clark County Public Health, show that Clark County residents experience different levels of heat depending on where they live. In some neighborhoods, residents face nearly 10-degree temperature differences, a Public Health news release stated.
More than 50 volunteers collected over 102,000 temperature readings across 17 routes during Clark County Public Health’s Heat Watch event on July 12, 2024. The findings showed urban areas with less tree cover, such as downtown Vancouver, Orchards and Fourth Plain, were among the hottest in the afternoon and evening. In contrast, cooler zones included Ridgefield, La Center and parts of Camas and Battle Ground.
Clark County Public Health plans to use the data to support grant applications and long-term climate action strategies. Public Health is specifically interested in alleviating the health inequalities caused by extreme heat, the news release stated.
“People who live in historically disinvested neighborhoods, who have limited access to resources like air conditioning and green space, and those with other health issues are all at greater risk for impacts from extreme heat,” Clark County Public Health built environment coordinator Amy Koski said in the news release.
The Heat Watch maps and full report are available online at shorturl.at/k005L.
