The High-resolution Urban Meteorology for Impacts Dataset (HUMID) aims to bridge the gap between complex climate modeling and practical urban decisionmaking. Andy Newman, an NSF NCAR Scientist, developed a comprehensive dataset that spans 1 January 1981 to 31 December 2018, covering all of CONUS at 1-km grid spacing. This dataset considers the urban heat-island effect on meteorology, making it particularly useful for urban applications. However, interpreting and employing the dataset was challenging for the non-scientific user community. To break down the barriers to access, developers Kevin Sampson and Matt Casali created an open-source web application using Streamlit, which packaged decades of high-resolution meteorological data into a user-friendly tool for the public, decision makers, and government officials.

This dashboard can instantly aggregate 37 years of temperature data into relevant local boundaries, such as census tracts and block groups. Daily maximum, minimum, and mean near-surface (2 meters above ground) temperature values are currently available for download through this dashboard. Users can customize their search by time, from daily to monthly averages, and by geography, allowing them to pinpoint specific neighborhoods that suffer from higher nighttime temperatures. This functionality provides city planners, emergency managers, and transportation officials with the exact spatiotemporal scales they need to make precisely informed decisions.

Ultimately, this project hopes to improve public safety and urban resilience by disseminating climate science data in a readily accessible tool. By identifying "hot zones" where heat is typically absorbed by asphalt and concrete, cities can better prioritize the placement of cooling centers, tree canopies, and infrastructure upgrades. From local neighborhood advocates to federal agencies, the HUMID dashboard empowers a broad community to understand and mitigate the life-threatening impacts of extreme urban heat.

To explore the data or use the tool, visit the HUMID Dashboard.