As the Air Heats Goes Up, These Cities Are Finding Ways to Lower Surface Temperature

By Evan Comen  •  August 6, 2025
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As climate change warms the planet, many cities are heating up faster than the global average. But while there is little city planners can do about ambient air temperature, many municipalities are taking efforts to cool surfaces by adding tree cover and reducing impervious surfaces.

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Scientists monitor land surface temperature across the globe using high-resolution satellite data from NASA. In some cities, satellite data shows a downward trend in land surface temperature of the past 10 years, despite increasing air temperatures in almost every corner of the country.

Many of the places where surface temperatures are cooling have implemented citywide tree planting programs and green roof initiatives that absorb radiant heat. More than half of the 25 cooling cities are in California, while just a handful are in the Northeast or Midwest. A closer look at the data reveals the cities where surface temperatures are decreasing.

To determine the cities where surface temperatures are decreasing, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on monthly land surface temperatures from NASA’s MODIS program. Cities were ranked based on the slope of a linear regression between year and average July land surface temperature from 2016 to 2025. Raster data was averaged across Census place boundaries using QGIS zonal statistics. Only cities with at least 250,000 residents were considered.

25. Detroit, MI

Photo by Doug Zuba on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.5°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 92.0°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 94.6°F
  • Total population: 636,787
 

24. Toledo, OH

Photo by Cathy Holewinski on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.6°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 87.0°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 89.6°F
  • Total population: 269,962
 

23. Jersey City, NJ

Photo by Zhen Yao on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.6°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 90.8°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 95.8°F
  • Total population: 287,899
 

22. Oakland, CA

Photo by Michael Kahn on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.6°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 83.6°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 91.8°F
  • Total population: 437,825
 

21. Miami, FL

Photo by Dillon Wanner on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.6°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 89.8°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 96.3°F
  • Total population: 443,665
 

20. Bakersfield, CA

Photo by Darren Rugh on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 108.1°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 118.2°F
  • Total population: 404,321
 

19. Anchorage, AK

Photo by John Feng on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 56.1°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 59.8°F
  • Total population: 290,674
 

18. Fresno, CA

Photo by Kellen Riggin on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 106.0°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 116.1°F
  • Total population: 541,528
 

17. Sacramento, CA

Photo by Leo_Visions on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 96.0°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 106.4°F
  • Total population: 523,600
 

16. San Jose, CA

Photo by odya kun on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 94.1°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 104.2°F
  • Total population: 1,001,176
 

15. Denver, CO

Photo by Acton Crawford on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 100.9°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 106.1°F
  • Total population: 710,800
 

14. Stockton, CA

Photo by Alex Conradt on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.7°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 94.6°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 104.8°F
  • Total population: 320,030
 

13. Aurora, CO

Photo by Acton Crawford on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.8°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 100.2°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 105.4°F
  • Total population: 387,349
 

12. Laredo, TX

Photo by Christina & Peter on Pexels

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.8°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 98.3°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 105.1°F
  • Total population: 255,293
 

11. Lubbock, TX

Photo by Emma Dau on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.8°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 97.2°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 111.6°F
  • Total population: 258,190
 

10. San Diego, CA

Photo by Justin Wolff on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.8°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 90.3°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 99.8°F
  • Total population: 1,383,987
 

9. Chula Vista, CA

Photo by Ngoc Nguyen on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.8°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 93.3°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 102.8°F
  • Total population: 276,103
 

8. Los Angeles, CA

Photo by Riccardo Tuninato on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.9°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 95.1°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 105.3°F
  • Total population: 3,881,041
 

7. Long Beach, CA

Photo by Brian McCall on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.9°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 93.6°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 103.4°F
  • Total population: 462,293
 

6. Riverside, CA

Photo by Moaaz Baig on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.9°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 101.9°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 113.7°F
  • Total population: 316,076
 

5. El Paso, TX

Photo by Kevin Vega on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -0.9°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 101.1°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 118.6°F
  • Total population: 677,181
 

4. Albuquerque, NM

Photo by Gabriel Griego on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -1.0°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 103.4°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 117.7°F
  • Total population: 562,551
 

3. Anaheim, CA

Photo by Ben Gomez on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -1.0°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 98.5°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 110.8°F
  • Total population: 347,111
 

2. Santa Ana, CA

Photo by Scott Kessler on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -1.1°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 97.2°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 109.7°F
  • Total population: 311,379
 

1. Irvine, CA

Photo by Austin Schmid on Unsplash

  • Average decrease in July land surface temperature, 2016-2025: -1.1°F per year
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2025: 92.3°F
  • Average July land surface temperature, 2016: 105.2°F
  • Total population: 304,527