MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) -- Ever wonder why cities feel warmer at night than rural towns further away from metropolitan areas? There is a reason for that. It's called the "Urban Heat Island."
The effect is usually noticeable after the sun sets below the horizon. Just like cloud cover, cities take a while longer to release heat gathered up during the day. Dry paved roads and the roofs of houses and tall buildings such as skyscrapers absorb heat and take longer to release the heat back into the atmosphere. Compare that to grass, soil, and other vegetation aren't so stingy with the heat energy they gather.
Due to this, temperatures can sometimes feel a few degrees warmer than areas just outside the city. This is true for Tallahassee. Tallahassee Regional Airport is in the outskirts of the city and can feel much nicer on a summer night than the streets in downtown Tallahassee.
