Cal Heat Score

Via Dr. Dawn Wright

Another ESRI mapping resource which would be of value.

A project in California maps the districts which are likely to be affected by extreme heat.

It is called CalHeatScore.

Obviously at the moment, there are no real causes for concern, but that will not be the case as we move through 2026.

The page looks like the one here:

A first-of-its-kind system that ranks heat risk on a scale from 0 to 4 at the ZIP code level.

ZIP codes are the US equivalent of post codes.

The online tool, built in ArcGIS Experience Builder, includes a map that divides the state into ZIP codes and shades each one a color ranging from light gray (low risk) to deep red (severe risk), depending on forecasted heat impacts for the current week. A tab displays cooling centers, such as libraries and community centers where people can access air conditioning and hydration. The tool also provides information on why each area has its heat ranking, along with profiles of the population’s age ranges, race and ethnicity breakdowns, access to health insurance, number of outdoor workers, and more.

California has a lot of micro-climates.

During extreme heat events, more people get sick, and some die. Yet, according to Wieland, public awareness of extreme heat’s dangers—and what to do when it strikes—remains low.

“A lot of people just think, ‘I’m going to tough it out. I’ve felt heat like this in the past, so I’m just going to continue with all my planned activities for the day,’” he said. “But that can have really dangerous and sometimes deadly consequences.”