Lagos Ranked Among Cities with Longest Extreme Heat Seasons Globally – New Climate Study Reveals

A new global climate report has listed Lagos, Nigeria, among cities with the most prolonged extreme heat seasons in the world.

According to research conducted by Climate Resilience for All (CRA) and led by meteorologist Dr. Larry Kalkstein, Lagos experiences more than 278 days of temperatures exceeding 32°C (90°F) annually, making it one of the hottest urban centers globally.

The study, based on data collected from 2019 to 2023 across 85 cities in various climate zones, revealed that heat seasons are no longer restricted to the traditional summer months. In fact, 20 of the cities studied now experience dangerously hot days throughout the year.

Lagos shares this alarming distinction with tropical cities such as Bangkok, Manila, Singapore, and Rio de Janeiro. These urban centers are grappling with the harsh effects of climate change and the urban heat island effect, which are intensified by rapid population growth and lack of green infrastructure.

“Extreme heat is no longer just a seasonal inconvenience it’s a year-round crisis,” said CRA CEO Kathy Baughman McLeod. “This prolonged heat is straining healthcare systems, reducing productivity, and endangering lives especially in cities not designed to withstand such temperatures.”

McLeod warned that governments, businesses, and communities must move beyond treating heatwaves as occasional anomalies and begin integrating heat resilience into urban planning, healthcare policies, and public safety strategies.

The report urges urgent international collaboration to mitigate climate risks, especially in densely populated, low-lying cities like Lagos that are particularly vulnerable to the escalating climate emergency.