Bloomington Extreme Heat Projections

Bloomington, Indiana

CAPA, in partnership with the City of Bloomington, collected data during the summer of 2024 Heat Watch campaign in Bloomington, IN about city temperature conditions. To augment the findings and expand an understanding of future temperatures scenarios in Bloomington, CAPA performed a series of hazard projection analyses with NASA’s Global Daily Downscaled CMIP6 Projections. We examined the conditions for a moderate increase in atmospheric carbon (SSP245) and an extreme case (SSP585) with projections through 2100. A series of simulations were run under the two conditions to understand how changing conditions will potentially affect future Heat Watch Projections, days exceeding maximum and minimum heat thresholds, changes in magnitude and duration of heat-wave conditions, and shifts in seasonality of extreme heat.

Key findings

• Heat Index Days Above 90°F and days with dangerous nighttime temperatures (above 80°F) will increase under both heat scenarios.
• Bloomington's heat season is also projected to extend with heat waves becoming longer and more intense.
• Urban heat islands in Bloomington will expand significantly, with almost the entire developed footprint experiencing extreme heat conditions by 2050, posing a serious risk to vulnerable populations.
   

Client

City of Bloomington

Services

Extreme Heat Projections, Heat Mapping

Media

Report Sample