I was chatting will KPRC 2 investigative reporter Bill Spencer, and he was telling me about his tennis match last weekend.
He said it was miserably hot outside. The outside air temperature was 99°! His tennis partner had a thermo-gun and determined the clay courts were 109°, but the hard tennis courts were a sweltering 135°.
Why does this happen?
Different colors absorb the sun’s rays at different wavelengths. Darker colors—such as what you see with asphalt—absorb better and hold in more heat. This causes hard, nonporous pavements, like asphalt and concrete, to heat up more than grass.
Trees help to block the sun’s rays, allowing the shaded grass to not be as hot compared to areas of grass that aren’t provided relief from the shade.
The same can be said when wearing light versus dark colored clothing when it’s hot outside. Wearing lighter colors when it’s hot outside helps you to feel slightly cooler.
Of course, we see extreme asphalt temperatures when we’re at 95°, but did you know even at 80-85° asphalt can reach +120°?
Not only does hot asphalt make us feel hot, but it can also be dangerous for our pets! One easy way to test if it is safe to walk dogs on concrete is the seven second rule! Place the back of your hand on the concrete. If you cannot keep your hand on the concrete for seven seconds, it is too hot for our furry friends’ little paws! They can get paw-burn. Walk them on the grass or put your dog in shoes!
Our heat is not going anywhere for the entire month of August. Stay cool and protect those paws!
