During the first week of classes, CBU students endured heat waves throughout the day. On Sept. 4, temperatures soared to 108 degrees as students walked to class. Even during the evenings and overnight, the weather never dropped below 80 degrees.
In early September, officials issued an excessive heat warning for Riverside, with forecasts predicting the heat wave would end on Wednesday, Sept. 11, when highs were expected to reach only the upper 80s.
For the first two weeks of September, the Inland Empire faced heat exposure warnings.
“Temperatures inland should climb a little each day into the weekend, gradually achieving five to 10 degrees above normal inland on Saturday,” the National Weather Service stated.
Severe heat poses a threat to local citizens’ health. For CBU students, extreme heat and poor air quality from wildfires made moving between classes uncomfortable due to heavy air and hazy skies.
In Riverside, homelessness is a significant and growing issue. If walking around campus in this weather is challenging, being forced to stay outside with little or no water could be life-threatening.
CBU students took time out of their day to distribute water bottles to people experiencing homelessness. They came together to create care packages, which included water, toiletries, and other essentials.
Marta Shitaye, senior computer science major, came up with the idea of helping people in Riverside.
“We distributed the water on Sunday, and honestly, it was brutal. The heat was intense, and there was little shade. We started feeling the effects less than 30 minutes into the distribution. It gave us a glimpse of what people living on the streets face daily in these conditions,” Shitaye said.
Despite the discomfort, the group powered through the heat to help those in need.
“Even though it was tough, we pushed forward because we knew the people we were helping desperately needed water and supplies. The experience made us appreciate everyday comforts on a much deeper level,” Shitaye added.
Student-athletes also struggled during the heatwave, especially those training outside during peak heat.
Jasmine Hernandez, sophomore marketing major and a member of CBU’s stunt team, explained how the team continued practicing outdoors despite the conditions.
“The heat wave has made it extremely difficult to practice outdoors. When stunting on the front lawn or the roof of the rec, it’s easy to get fatigued and even sick. After just one hour of practicing in the heat, I was stuck in bed with a fever for the rest of the day,” Hernandez said.
While heat waves this severe are uncommon, to Southern California residents, it’s just another fire season. Staying safe during extreme weather conditions by staying hydrated, seeking shade, and watching for signs of heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat stroke is essential.
