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Context and backgroundExtreme heat is one of the challenges facing urban areas. Though this constitutes a global urban challenge, especially large cities in the world, Urban studies have barely paid attention to urban heat.Goal and Objectives:This study attempts to respond to the research gap through drawing on early warning systems to explore community and governments to extreme heat, in particular, how residents adapt to extreme heat in Dar es Salaam.Methodology:Kigogo ward in the city of Dar es Salaam was selected as a case study area. Household questionnaire was the main method used for data collection. Through quantitative methods, a total of 100 households in Kigogo ward were surveyed. Collected data were analysed using Stata software.Results:The findings show that residents adapted to extreme heat drawing on their own knowledge and personal initiatives. Regardless of education level, income status and household size all male and female perceive heat strain. The study also revealed association between independent variables and adaptation strategies, for example results for level of education vis a vis some extreme heat mitigation strategies are as follows: frequent drinking of water (χ2 (1) = 63.371 p-value = 0.000), planting of trees (χ2 (1) = 2.559, p-value = 0.110) and water-cooling strategy using ice (ꭓ2(1) = 5.099, p-value = 0.014). The study concluded that heat and its related impacts have not received due attention in urban policy and city’s authorities despite noticeable impacts on residents. The research suggests the city authorities place emphasis on heat information, awareness creation and education to minimize its adverse effects on residents.
