The Northern Nevada Heat Summit is part of a broader effort to address the challenges posed by ever increasing heat across different city neighborhoods and rural communities.
Contributing factors for determining temperatures include elevation, vegetation, and manmade surfaces.
The summit brings together scientists, city agencies, and community members to discuss how to better equip people for summer heat, the effects of which can impact lives and cause severe illness if not properly addressed.
"There's going to be some heat," said Tom Albright, Deputy State Climatologist. "What are we going to do about it and how can we keep people safe? And it starts with everything from awareness, so people understanding what the dangers are, who's most at risk."
The Summit aims to address the challenges posed by extreme heat in the region.
Findings were discussed from recent heat mapping studies and solutions were explored to mitigate heat-related issues.
The experts discussed the use of heat-reflective surfaces, water smart tree planting, and heat-informed architectural designs to mitigate the effects of scorching temps.
"We look at reducing huge parking lots and paved surfaces," added Albright. "Those kinds of things can reduce the temperatures, both locally and throughout the region."
Awareness starts with knowledge, knowing when and how to prepare for high heat. Leaders at Thursday's summit hope that the various strategies highlighted will give people the answers they need to keep a bit cooler and safer.
