Heat Islands are defined by the EPA as "Urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas. Heat islands are typically caused by areas having denser development of buildings and cement areas like parking lots.
Ashland recently participated in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Urban Heat Mapping Campaign conducted by the McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University. This study also included Framingham, Holliston, and Natick. With the the help of over 40 volunteers, data was collected on a Day in mid-July 2023. You can learn more about the results of the here.