When students began their third week of instruction, they were met with temperatures in the low 90s that made for an uncomfortable experience on campus. To make matters worse, the temperature climbed to a scorching 104 degrees on Wednesday, followed by a high of 105 degrees on Thursday.
The beginning of September brought soaring temperatures across Southern California as many braced for a record-breaking heat wave over the weekend.
This trend of hot weather that continued into the weekend featured temperatures of over 100 degrees. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an excessive heat warning for East Los Angeles that extended into Monday night. The NWS also issued an air quality alert for East Los Angeles because of the high level of ozone pollution increased by the heatwave likely to be in the air during the late afternoons.
With all of these issues in mind, students like Carlos Bonilla shared concerns about the weather’s possible effects on his health, and discontent with the heat breaching Cal State LA buildings.
“As a student, I don’t want to be hit by heat stroke. So, sometimes it’s really hot for me to get out of King Hall and go to the food court or maybe the USU,” Bonilla said. “I’m hoping that the University can bring better A/Cs to different classrooms, and different buildings, and different spots where students either just hang out, or to socialize with other students, or do homework.”
Bonilla’s concerns of heat stroke are not far-fetched. The NWS developed a heat index chart which can help individuals measure the dangers of prolonged heat exposure by measuring air temperature and humidity. Individuals are urged to exercise extreme caution when temperatures are between 90 to 103 degrees. Anything above 103 degrees is considered both dangerous and or extremely dangerous, increasing the risks an individual will suffer from heat cramp, strokes, or exhaustion.
Bonilla’s wish for better A/C at Cal State LA has been brought up before by staff and students. 11 months ago, residents on campus complained of air conditioning issues that spanned from the summer into the early weeks of the fall semester.
Despite the boiling heat, not every student felt out of their element. Angel Angel, a student seeking to beat the heat, described the scorching hot temperature he’s confronted in the past, near the California Arizona border.
“Where I go it’s normally like, almost twice as bad, maybe 120… The heat over there, it feels more natural despite being hotter. But over here it’s just, it just feels suffocating,” Angel said.
Luckily for staff and students, the heat wave is finally coming to a close. The last days of intense heat are Monday and Tuesday where temperatures will be in the 100s and 90s. From Wednesday into the end of the week, temperatures will be in the low 80s and high 70s, thus creating a more comfortable environment for Cal State LA students and staff.
