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Cities / Austin

Austin

United States

Austin is projected to face significant climate hazards, particularly extreme heat, dangerous heat extremes, and heavy rainfall events. To combat these challenges, the city has implemented technology-enabled climate resilience solutions across planning and monitoring. Current initiatives include the use of climate analytics, hazard forecasting, and comprehensive weather monitoring systems. These measures not only equip Austin to better respond to immediate climate threats but also reinforce its long-term adaptability to climate change. Moreover, the city is planning to expand these technology-driven efforts, ensuring a sustainable approach to mitigate risks associated with their changing environment. By investing in such solutions, Austin aims to safeguard its residents against future climate impacts while promoting resilience within the community.

Hazard Outlook

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

Longest Heatwave

83rd percentile High exposure

Austin may experience heatwaves lasting up to 7 days, among the highest of all other cities.

Austin
0.0 Shorter → Longer 92

Maximum Temperature

72nd percentile Elevated exposure

Austin's projected maximum temperature of 10.4°C is higher than most cities globally under a 3.0°C warming scenario.

Austin
5.0 Cooler → Hotter 13

Heavy Rainfall Days

52nd percentile Elevated exposure

With 10 days of heavy rainfall expected, Austin ranks higher than most cities for extreme precipitation events.

Austin
0.0 Fewer → More 36

Maximum Rainfall

65th percentile Elevated exposure

Austin's projected maximum rainfall of 13 mm is higher than most cities globally.

Austin
0.0 Lower → Higher 35

Elevation

68th percentile Moderate exposure

At 228 m elevation, Austin faces moderate risk from coastal flooding and sea level rise.

Austin
-8.0 Lower → Higher 4k

Exposure Summary

Heatwave
Max Temp
Heavy Rain
Max Rain
Elevation

Adaptation Priorities

Austin faces high exposure to heatwave and elevated exposure to max temp, heavy rain, max rain. These areas may warrant priority attention in adaptation planning.

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 Austin.

Downscaled Regional Climate Modeling for Local Projections

The City of Austin's Office of Sustainability collaborated with ATMOS Research, led by Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, to develop geographically specific...

Recommended Solutions

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

Heat Emergency Registry and Surveillance System
84%
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.
Resilient Community Hubs with Renewable Energy and Battery Backup
82%
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Several existing community and activity centers have been identified as desirable locations for the establishment of hardened neighborhood facilities to support residents in times of need before, during, and after hazardous weather events or disruptions in utility services.
GIS-Based Urban Tree Inventory and Management System
84%
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.
Citizen Science Mobile Heat Mapping with Vehicle-Mounted Sensors
87%
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.
Energy Intelligence Network with Real-Time Demand Response Monitoring
79%
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.
NotifyChicago Emergency Alert and Community Notification System
78%
From: Chicago

NotifyChicago is a free municipal service that delivers text message and email alerts to residents regarding both emergency and non-emergency situations.
Array of Things Urban Environmental Sensing Network
78%
From: Chicago

The Array of Things represents an urban sensing infrastructure deployed across Chicago to collect real-time environmental and operational data through a network of interactive, modular sensor boxes mounted on streetlight poles.
Data-Driven Tree Mapping Tool for Urban Forestry Prioritization
78%
From: Chicago

A data-driven tree mapping tool guides Chicago's urban forestry strategy by integrating multiple environmental, health, and social vulnerability datasets to identify priority areas for tree planting.
NASA Landsat Urban Heat Island Mapping and Analysis Platform
78%
From: Chicago

The City of Chicago partnered with City Tech Collaborative, Microsoft, Esri, and d3i Systems to develop a technology-enabled approach for quantifying urban heat islands and assessing heat reduction interventions using advanced environmental data from NASA.
Integrated Metropolitan Meteorological Monitoring Network
78%
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.