California never has a “normal” fall. However, this year, a bigger-than-usual heat wave is affecting thousands of Californians. According to The New York Times, the source of the heat wave is high pressure in the atmosphere that pushes warm air toward the ground. Overall, the high temperatures have caused a lot of damage and even health-related issues.
To begin, the heat waves have caused power outages. People have been using air conditioning, sometimes nonstop through the night, which adds stress to electrical equipment, causing outages. CBS8 reports that at their peak, 14,000 customers were without power throughout the region. Furthermore, people are suffering from heat-related illnesses. Outdoor workers are especially affected by this. For example, in a neighborhood in LA, the temperature reached 103 degrees, and firefighters ended up spending nearly six hours rescuing a construction worker trapped inside an 8-foot-deep trench. One firefighter had to be rushed to the hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion. Freshman Liesel Park says, “The heat wave has been pretty miserable for me because I play sports, and I don’t do well in the heat, so it’s been pretty awful.”
Additionally, according to CBS News, the heat has made air quality a more significant concern, affecting the broader population. Ozone smog levels, formed when gasses from pollution mix with sunlight, are concerningly high. Although most of California has been greatly suffering, the La Jolla community has had a tiny fraction of these issues. English teacher Mr. Essex says, “On the weekends, I walk over here, and because the AC is good in room 803, I come and pretend like I’m working here.”