January forecast mishaps

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Elena Walz

Don’t let the blue skies fool you—this photo was taken on January 23, 2022.

Elena Walz, Editor-in-Chief

Ah, January. The month where every inhabitant of the Northern Hemisphere enjoys the winter season, cozied up in their thick sweaters, sipping hot drinks as the freezing weather rages outside their comfortably heated homes. Aren’t we so blessed to have this miraculous change of season? Who wouldn’t want to break out their bulkiest, most fashionable  coat to protect from the icy chill? Alas, such a fortunate fate was not meant to be.

Moving out of Thanksgiving break, I was honestly excited for the promised colder temperatures, but then I was hit by a painfully inescapable fact: I live in southern California. It’s a blessing and a curse. Yes, I live roughly equal distances from the beach and Disneyland, but having weather in the 60s be considered cold is not my ideal situation. If I may, I would like to present an argument that I know will cause pushback from some of you…WEATHER ISN’T EVERYTHING!

This view is not shared by many people. I know most of my friends and family love California because of it’s consistent sunshine, but just think about how much simpler our lives would be if weather patterns actually behaved like they were supposed to. For example, last Sunday, my dad and I went on a hike, and when we left out house at approximately 10 a.m. It was 74 degrees. Yeah, that’s right. 74 degrees! It only continued to get hotter, leaving us with weather common in June, but not January.

I’m no meteorologist, and I’m not suggesting they have any control over the weather (*wink wink*), but the Kardashians making their home in California is not a sufficient reason for us to be stuck in one season all year long. So what if people can’t tan on the beach in the middle of winter? That’s kind of the point of winter! The thermostat dropping below 70 is no cause for panic.

So my dear Royals, let me offer some words of caution: thinking about travelling out of state for college? Well, that’s fine, but most other parts of the country don’t require the same wardrobe year round. Also, if you plan to visit a school, try going at a time when the weather is most insufferable. There’s a reason why schools in the New England area refer to winter as “the dark ages.” And no, it’s not meant to commemorate the fall of the Roman Empire. You literally might not see the sun for weeks on end.

If you want a little taste of life outside the Golden State, try asking your friends or relatives about winter weather in other regions of America. One of my friends in Colorado told me about an ice storm that reeked havoc on her high school last week, causing roads, sidewalks, and basically any available surface to be coated in a layer of slippery ice. Walking out of her house, she recalled how her two younger brothers slid all the way down the driveway and had to be pulled back up with a stick. Try navigating that sort of disaster when you’re already running five minutes late and your Philz mobile order isn’t ready yet.

Needless to say, I have mixed feelings about January. I happen to really enjoy cool, crisp, mornings and I very much do not appreciate having to pick out my uniform with the knowledge that temperatures in Fullerton will reach a high in the mid 70s in the afternoon. January, if you’re reading this, I expect more from you.