Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Department

Geography

First Advisor

April Hiscox

Abstract

Understanding of heat and its impacts has become essential to everyday life as heat continues to cause illness and fatalities across the United States, and around the globe. Defining extreme heat presents massive challenges, meaning different organizations, institutions, and researchers approach heat events differently, which is unlike any other hazard. Finding ways to get on the same page about heat’s impact on our communities is complex but necessary. Following insights and experiences gained from a 2024 health survey, a Daily Heat Risk Forecast was developed to reflect the forecasts of the three current products for every day in the Columbia area, additionally detailing heat illness information. This daily email communication was provided to key partners of the regional weather forecast office who were individuals and groups across the study area who are impacted by heat in their operations, whether that was a large portion of their workforce laboring outside or students practicing sports out in the sun. This group was surveyed following the 5-month distribution period of daily heat communication to gather information on what tools were most helpful to them. Participants had the opportunity to reflect on the content, communication, and utility of the forecast. While distribution occurred, the emails were collected and the forecast data from the emails was combined with observed values. Forecasts were analyzed for accuracy depending on category and measure to understand how often forecasts provided reliable risk levels, showing that only utilizing forecasts may miss the worst of the impacts and observed weather can support further understanding. Results showed that the color-coded risk levels presented were well received by stakeholders, while additional components to consider include timing and duration. The findings from the 2025 study period can help guide future communications of heat risk, eventually being expanded to other metropolitan areas in the weather forecast region.

Rights

© 2026, Madison Sydney Nordberg

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