Why America's Biggest Cities Continue to See Hotter Summers

You are not imagining it if it feels like the temperatures keep creeping upwards. A new study is proving that American cities are getting hotter with each passing year. Here is a look at what cities are seeing the most significant increase in temperatures.

America's Largest Cities Feeling the Impact of Climate Change

Human-caused climate change is to blame for the noticeable increase in temperatures across the country. The extreme heat is impacting larger cities at a greater rate, affecting over 260 million Americans.

Urban centers naturally take on more heat due to the proliferation of buildings and roads that radiate heat at a greater degree than trees and grassy areas. This is known as the urban heat island effect, a phenomenon that can tack on as much as 20 degrees to city temperature readings when compared to rural counterparts.

A data analysis provided by the International Institute for Environment and Development shows that the 50 most populated metro areas in the country have all experienced hotter temperatures over the past 50 years.

Of these 50 large cities, all but three of them have seen "extremely hot" days, defined as readings over 95 degrees.