The weather is often a go-to topic for small talk, yet the increased rainfall and the repercussions following it made it an overwhelming issue for California residents, including USC students.
According to the LA Times, last week’s storm accounted for more than 60% of the city’s average annual rainfall.
The bad weather, which may have been insignificant elsewhere, has had a dramatic impact on the lives of people living in Los Angeles. The atmospheric river that drenched Southern California had a dramatic impact on residents, flooding streets and downing trees. But it also affected mental health and well-being. USC students were not exempt from the storm’s consequences, with certain classes being moved online, or canceled altogether, due to hazardous road conditions or professors tending to the results of the rain.
In general, the weather constantly affects our daily experiences and mental states. Rainy days can evoke feelings of gloominess or reflection, while on sunny summer days, we have a calling to go outside and play on the beach.
Well-established scientific research can easily explain the link between good weather and our moods: sunlight exposure is linked to the production of serotonin, our happiness hormone. Dreary weather can disrupt sleep cycles and make our moods as dark as the clouds themselves. That’s why light therapy is a popular treatment for those experiencing seasonal affective disorder SAD.
Rebecca Llopis, a USC Freshman from the UK majoring in Theater and Global Studies, said that because rain in England is so persistent it becomes ingrained into daily life. Over time, the restrictions on outdoor activities and social interactions pile up. The feeling as described by Rebecca of being, “hidden under an umbrella or staying cozy and safe inside,” fosters a sense of growing stagnation.
People living in California may be unaccustomed to harsh weather, so the adverse effects on mental health could be particularly prominent. Freshman Political Science major, Ava Keshavarzi, remarked that, “for me, the rain brings a sense of loneliness because it holds me back from leaving indoor spaces like my room or the library, which limits the social interaction I have.” Although some people enjoy occasional rainy days, finding them fun or cleansing, after a while, we need the sun to return and re-energize us. Since moving here, Rebecca has recognized how much of our mood can be attributed to the weather, saying that sunny days “genuinely make us happier.”