This summer, Texans have endured scorching temperatures as hot as 48C (119F), making the state one of the hottest places on Earth.
The state is trapped under a "heat dome", a phenomenon that happens when high pressure traps dry, hot air over an area, causing the hot air to sink to the earth's surface and preventing clouds from forming. Due to high humidity, these temperatures feel even hotter. And forecasters project the intense heat will expand north into the Plains and from the west coast to the Gulf Coast in the coming days, leaving millions more people facing excessive heat warnings.
But as the heatwave continues, many cities in Texas are beginning to take proactive measures to cool their streets down and protect people from the dangerous impacts of overheating. These cooling measures are also being implemented more widely across the US, from installing green roofs and walls and painting streets with cool pavement coating to purchasing air conditioning units for vulnerable residents.
"Planning for heat is not as well-developed in the US as planning for other hazards like flooding," says Sara Meerow, associate professor at Arizona State University's school of geographical sciences and urban planning. "I think this is changing as heat becomes a more visible and universal threat."
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