By: Chloe Wilson

Humor Editor

California has had record-breaking high temperatures this October, and at least three students in Riverside, CA, have been hospitalized due to this historic heat wave. As many citizens consider the danger of this event, these heat-related injuries show just how severe this climate crisis is. Following a track meet in Riverside on October 1st, paramedics took three athletes to the hospital. The temperature in Riverside was over 100 degrees. The medical staff performed an analysis on five overall patients to check for injuries; ultimately, three athletes were hospitalized. Due to these late fall temperatures, officials say it is “a significant threat to property or life.” 

Medical staff expect these three students to be okay according to the race organizer. Eric Reynolds, a cross country coach at Woodcrest Christian School. He said, “They were all individuals that crossed the line after they ran their two-mile race and collapsed a little bit.” Shockingly, more than 20% of Californian schools have no air conditioning or heating systems.  California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, recently signed a bill that aims to protect students from extreme weather conditions. Yahushua Robinson died at age 12 last year after he collapsed while running in his physical education class on a day when temperatures reached 107 degrees. This student inspired the naming of the bill. However, Newsom vetoed the Climate Resilient Schools Act last month, a bill that would have produced a “roadmap” for schools to access federal funding to improve facilities. 

On a more local scale, San Francisco recorded its hottest temperature ever on Tuesday, October 8th. San Rafael hit the highest temperature in the whole Bay Area, at 107 degrees. Santa Rosa, in Sonoma County, reached 102 degrees. Additionally, the town of Kentfield, in Marin County, reached 102, with the previous high being 97 in 1930. In downtown San Francisco, the temperature reached 97 degrees, which topped its previous record of 92 in 2023. San Jose also beat its record 2023 temperature hitting 103 degrees. In the Sacramento area, this heat wave advisory lasted longer than other areas and it was in effect until 11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6. Contradicting Northern California’s early snow advisory weeks ago, the record-breaking temperatures this heat wave has brought to the Bay Area are above normal and clearly, slightly unexpected.

Following a downward trend, this heatwave was expected to conclude shortly after Monday, Oct. 7. According to weather reports, Sacramento Valley expects the temperature to stay in the upper 90s to roughly 102 degrees, with the Delta, southern Sacramento, and northern San Joaquin Valleys once again experiencing the warmest temperatures. With the weather finally starting to adjust accordingly to the fall season, there may be a chance of showers later in October. 

(Sources: CBS, Fox, USA Today)