When temperatures soar in the summer, it's not just the air you need to worry about. The ground beneath your feet can become dangerously hot, especially certain types of pavement.

"Pavement actually poses a very serious burn threat,” explained meteorologist Rob Shackelford. 

Take a day when the high temperature reaches 95 degrees. According to Shackelford, asphalt is the hottest, reaching around 140 degrees.

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"The dark color of asphalt actually absorbs sunlight, so it can quickly cause the temperatures to skyrocket," he explained.

Other surfaces heat up too, but not quite as much. Red brick can climb to about 135 degrees, while concrete typically reaches around 120 degrees.

"It's still very hot, but notice that asphalt is the king of being super duper hot when the air temperature's hot," Shackelford said.

(MORE: This simple weather check could save your dog’s summer)

Even natural surfaces aren't immune. Grass in direct sunlight can exceed 100 degrees when the air is 95, though shaded grass stays much cooler, at around 91 degrees.

What gives grass the extra edge in staying cool?

"Grass has a natural process called transpiration that helps keep temperatures lower,” Shackelford noted.

During transpiration, water evaporates from the grass, using heat energy in the process and preventing the surface from heating as much. "Pavement doesn't have that," he said.

(MORE: How to schedule outdoor activities in the heat)

That means asphalt, sidewalks and other paved surfaces can stay dangerously hot throughout the day, creating a burn risk for bare feet, children and pets.

Shackelford even remembers learning that lesson firsthand. "When I was a kid, there was some tar on the road by the pool we'd go to, and if it started bubbling, we would wear shoes instead of flip flops."

Whether you’re headed to the pool like Rob, taking the dog for a walk or enjoying time outdoors, checking the temperature of the ground, not just the air, could help prevent disaster on the hottest summer days.