After a chaotic winter marked by unprecedented fires and torrential rainstorms, USC students have finally been able to enjoy the sunny skies and warmer days. Spring has officially arrived, with temperatures in Los Angeles reaching mid-to-high 70s and even low 80s, and UV index reaching 8 or “very high.”. As the school year winds down, students are taking a moment to appreciate the sunshine and share how the change in weather has affected their day-to-day lives.
Will Gellatly, a sophomore philosophy, politics and economics major, is especially grateful for the dry heat, a positive shift from the humidity of his Florida hometown.
“I love this heat, because it’s not humid — it’s dry heat. So even though it’s getting up [to] 70 to 80 degrees, I’m still enjoying it,” he said.
Gellatly is also sure to make the most of the sunshine, too. “I live in an apartment building with an open-air roof, and my roommates and I always go up there to tan,” he said.
In a health briefing with student media on Tuesday morning, Chief Health Officer Dr. Sarah Van Orman emphasized the importance of wearing sunscreen every day.
“Especially if you’re walking around campus, you may think it’s only 15, 20 minutes — but that is sun exposure. So [use] a daily sunscreen, particularly on the face and any exposed areas, as well as on the back of the hands, and wearing a hat when you’re out and about,” she said.
For BK Harris, a senior on the USC women’s soccer team, the warm weather has given her mixed feelings. While she enjoys practicing outside and the sun, there are challenges too.
“The weather has definitely made practices like — it’s harder. You get overheated fast. We ran on the turf today — it makes the temperatures 20 times hotter,” she said.
Still, she mentioned, “Going on walks with my dog has been more enjoyable.”
Van Orman gave advice on how to stay protected during a change in weather, especially for people partaking in athletic events.
“I always remind people that it takes about two weeks when the weather changes for our bodies to acclimate to a higher temperature setting,” Dr. Van Orman said. “Even if you’re in good shape, if you are suddenly doing strenuous activity in a much warmer climate — or it’s much warmer than you’re used to — you need to be really cautious and make sure you’re taking breaks and staying hydrated.”
For Ethan Shamoeil, a junior majoring in history, the end of the semester means he has been busy with school work, but he still has found time to enjoy the weather and soak up the sun. “I’ve been busy with school, but I have been sitting outside. So it’s been nice.”
While some students decide to prioritize the sun over class, Harris said that it’s actually made her stay on top of school and go to class.
“It makes going to class more enjoyable — we did have a rainy period where you don’t want to go to class because it’s raining, but I feel like the warm weather has motivated me actually to get to class,” she said.
As we look forward into the ten-day forecast, it seems to prove that this is not just a weekend blip. In Los Angeles, the weather is expected to stay sunny, and Trojans are loving it.