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Cities / Buffalo

Buffalo

United States

Buffalo is projected to face a future marked by frequent heatwaves, which are expected to increase in intensity and duration due to climate change. These extreme heat events pose serious risks to public health, especially for vulnerable groups. The increasing frequency of heatwaves may worsen health disparities and exert pressure on local infrastructure, impacting those without air conditioning. Additionally, energy demand is predicted to rise significantly during these heat events, potentially leading to higher costs and strains on the power grid. The urban heat island effect could also intensify already elevated temperatures in developed areas, challenging existing urban planning efforts. Addressing these climate hazards requires a strategic approach to public health and infrastructure resilience to safeguard the community against the impending impacts of extreme heat.

Hazard Outlook

How will Buffalo's projected climate hazards compare to other cities under a 3.0°C future warming scenario?

Longest Heatwave

32nd percentile Moderate exposure

Buffalo may experience heatwaves lasting up to 4 days, near the median of other cities.

Buffalo
0.0 Shorter → Longer 92

Heavy Rainfall Days

26th percentile Moderate exposure

With 10 days of heavy rainfall expected, Buffalo ranks near the median of cities for extreme precipitation events.

Buffalo
0.0 Fewer → More 36

Maximum Rainfall

46th percentile Moderate exposure

Buffalo's projected maximum rainfall of 10 mm is near the median of cities globally.

Buffalo
0.0 Lower → Higher 35

Elevation

65th percentile Moderate exposure

At 199 m elevation, Buffalo faces moderate risk from coastal flooding and sea level rise.

Buffalo
-8.0 Lower → Higher 4k

Maximum Temperature

13th percentile Lower exposure

Buffalo's projected maximum temperature of 8.0°C is lower than most cities globally under a 3.0°C warming scenario.

Buffalo
5.0 Cooler → Hotter 13

Exposure Summary

Heatwave
Heavy Rain
Max Rain
Elevation
Max Temp

Adaptation Priorities

Buffalo shows moderate or lower exposure across measured climate hazards.

Data source: Climate projections from the IPCC AR6 scenario analysis. See our methodology for details on how we process and interpret this data.

Deployed Solutions

Deployed climate adaptation technologies identified in Buffalo.

No solutions have been documented for Buffalo.

This is an archived snapshot of the database.

Recommended Solutions

Proven solutions from similar cities that could help diversify Buffalo's resilience portfolio

Energy Intelligence Network with Real-Time Demand Response Monitoring
87%
From: Pittsburgh

This approach leverages enhanced data collection and monitoring infrastructure to enable businesses and institutions to strategically reduce electricity consumption during peak demand periods, thereby lowering costs while strengthening grid stability.
Heat Emergency Registry and Surveillance System
86%
From: St. Louis

The St. Louis Department of Health utilizes a specialized database of residents who may require assistance during emergencies, combined with surveillance systems to monitor public safety during heat events.
District Energy Systems and Microgrid Network
87%
From: Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has developed an extensive network of district energy systems and microgrids designed to modernize the city's aging electrical infrastructure with advanced clean energy technologies.
Grid-Independent Solar EV Charging with Battery Backup
87%
From: Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has developed a network of resilient electric vehicle charging stations that operate independently from the electrical grid through solar generation and battery backup systems.
GIS-Based Urban Tree Inventory and Management System
86%
From: St. Louis

The City of St. Louis Forestry Division maintains an active database of trees that it manages, with a GIS-based inventory for street trees and nearly all of the City's larger parks.
Triple Bottom Line Analysis Tool for Green Infrastructure Assessment
87%
From: Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority employed Impact Infrastructure's AUTOCASE tool to conduct triple bottom line analysis that incorporated environmental and social equity factors alongside financial considerations for green infrastructure projects.
Citizen Science Mobile Heat Mapping with Vehicle-Mounted Sensors
84%
From: Boston

With the help of the Museum of Science, volunteers attached temperature sensors to their cars and bikes to collect data in Boston, Cambridge and Brookline.
Integrated Metropolitan Meteorological Monitoring Network
82%
From: Lisbon

The Lisbon Metropolitan Area established an integrated meteorological monitoring network in early 2022, consisting of 18 weather stations distributed across each of its 18 municipalities.
Off-Grid Solar EV Charging Stations with Emergency Power Backup
87%
From: Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh deployed five portable, solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations manufactured by Envision Solar that operate independently from the electrical grid.
Integrated 1D-2D Hydraulic Modeling for Urban Drainage Systems
82%
From: Lisbon

Mathematical modelling of wastewater and stormwater systems was undertaken with SWMM (1D) and Basement (2D), mostly in the downtown area (drainage catchments J&L).