urban heat island effect

Nearly three in four New Orleans residents likely live in so-called “urban heat islands” where the local temperatures are at least eight degrees higher than less-developed areas, according to new modeling released Wednesday.

Less than two weeks into the official start of summer, record-breaking heat has already swamped Louisiana and much of the South. And forecasters say the dangerous heat will likely continue.

To combat flooding and extreme heat, a new master plan for rebuilding New Orleans’ urban forest calls for 100,000 new trees to be planted by 2040. Released Friday, the Reforestation Plan calls for the city to craft its first comprehensive tree policy to start protecting the trees New Orleans already has and ramp up efforts to maintain the tree canopy as more are planted.

As the climate warms, cities are thinking about how to mitigate urban temperature increases. But cities in wet climates like South Louisiana may have a…