The rapid development of urban areas can potentially alter hydro-meteorological fluxes and lead to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon. In this study, UHI intensity and its driving factors were estimated using the Community Land Model (CLM) in cities of Tokyo, Phoenix, Bandung, and Quito, with different landscapes and climates, as a step in risk assessment of urbanization phenomena. The UHI magnitude increased along with the ratio of the height to width (H/W) of urban canyons in cities with the same latitude, especially during the daytime, when Quito (Tokyo) had a higher UHI than Bandung (Phoenix). El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, such as El Nino and La Nina, contributed to UHI variability, during which the cities in the western (eastern) part of Pacific Ocean experienced a higher UHI during El Nino (La Nina). The UHI differences from total biophysical drivers between these events were highest in Tokyo during the daytime as a result of convection process, and in Phoenix during the nighttime due to the hot arid climate of the city. Our results suggest the need to consider climate variation beyond local site characteristics when mitigating heat stress and making decisions regarding urban development.