Introduction

The weather is getting weirder. Cold snaps followed by hot days intermixed with rain and storms are becoming the new normal. While in college, there’s a unique set of resources and constraints to consider when trying to decide what you can do to prepare for this wacky weather. Maybe that’s extra university resources, budgeting limits, or even something as simple as not having a car, which limits where you can go for supplies or evacuations. In this blog post, we’ll look at why the weather is getting harder to predict and plan for, as well as ways to try and do just that, utilizing FSU’s resources and working around common constraints faced by college students. 

Why Is The Weather Getting Weirder?

It’s easy to notice. One day, it’s cold, calling for layers and bundling up to stay warm. The next week it’s reaching record highs, meaning it’s time to pull out the shorts, t-shirts, and cold drinks. We’ve seen it as sudden strong storms sweep across the country, sounding tornado and flooding alarms, weather systems entirely out of season, or hurricane season starting earlier, ending later, and hitting harder. Why is this happening?

You may have heard the phrase “polar vortex” when looking at the weather in the winter. What exactly does that mean? There’s a big deposit of cold air swirling around the Arctic. It’s kept in place by the Polar Jet Stream which travels below it, preventing the cold air from spreading downwards. Some years, the jet stream naturally fluctuates, growing weaker or stronger depending on the air temperature difference between the Arctic and lower latitude air. When the jet stream weakens, it dips further south and allows cold air to drop further, bringing with it colder temperatures and unpredictable storm systems. 

This isn’t abnormal, the Earth’s weather systems experience natural cycles all the time. However, every year brings with it unprecedented storms or cold, and each year is more unpredictable than the last. Scientists have attributed this ongoing trend to climate change causing a consistent and long-term weakening of the jet stream. As the Arctic heats, the temperature difference between the Arctic and the winds on the other side of the jet stream decreases, which slows the speed of the jet stream, weakening it and allowing more Arctic air to dip south with increasing consistency. This brings with it stranger weather with each passing year.

Why Does It Matter To Me?

What does it all matter? The weather’s changing, and we’re learning to live around that. As a college student, extra things may need to be considered or there may be resources that can be utilized here at FSU. Living with unpredictable weather isn’t easy. It can affect work schedules and class schedules and can put cars, apartments, or dorms at risk if severe enough. We’re all affected by the weather, and it never hurts to have a few extra plans or resources tucked away in case of emergency.

Preparing for Weird Weather: Student Edition

“Severe weather” is a broad category to try and prepare for, especially as it only grows more intense and unpredictable–but there are still ways to keep yourself and loved ones safe and informed. A lot of it may be things you’ve heard before: make sure you’re regularly checking the forecast, sign up for any community alert notifications, shelter in place low and centered if it’s a high-winds event, etc. A lot of preparation has to do with knowing what’s happening so you know how to react. But what about beforehand?

Disaster Supplies

One thing to do is create a Disaster Supply Kit. Oftentimes during clear weather, it may feel excessive and wasteful, until the day you get to avoid the rush at local stores and have supplies on hand to wait out any shelter-in-place events. Emergency management experts typically follow the “72-Hour Rule” stating that individuals and/or families should have the supplies to last 72 hours on their own before utilities are restored or they’re able to be rescued if stranded. These kits include many of the things you’d expect, food and water, flashlight and batteries, first aid supplies, and more. There are also a few things students and anyone preparing for a storm should have on hand that may not immediately come to mind. Having physical cash on hand, as if the power goes out so too do the ATMs, and card transactions may be impossible for a few days. Having a wrench and pliers on hand to turn off utilities if need be (particularly in the case of flooding where having utilities on may actually be more dangerous than being without power) is also often overlooked and important.

Of course, this isn’t always feasible for everyone, most commonly due to financial restraints. Buying three days' worth of supplies can be expensive! So is there anything else to do? Yes! There are a few things you can do if you’re worried about sudden weather shifts and stocking up on supplies isn’t exactly in your budget. 

1: Freeze water beforehand

Especially for students who haven’t lived through a hurricane before. Put some water in a plastic bag and pop it in the freezer as soon as you hear about the potential of a severe storm that could affect the power. This not only helps ensure you have clean water to drink when it melts but also extra ice to keep foods cold for longer. 

2: Do NOT open the fridge/freezer once the power goes out unless necessary

Undisturbed, a freezer can keep food cold for up to four hours after the power goes out, and a fridge can keep it cold anywhere from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Each time you open the fridge or freezer, warm air enters the space, and without the power running it is difficult to effectively cool it so it does not raise the temperature of the inside of the fridge.

3: Know First Aid 

The best way to do this is to get formally certified through the Red Cross. It sounds cliche and it’s been said a million times, but it really is impossible to know when this information will save your or someone else’s life. In a disaster or emergency, it is more often the neighbor or family member that saves lives than it is the rescue worker. Linked here is information on basic first aid classes taught through FSU Campus Recreation.

Weather Resources at FSU

Florida is known not only for its hurricanes but also its storms in general, home to the “Lightning Capital of North America”. FSU has been sure to prepare its own wealth of resources for students to utilize to help stay safe in wild weather. 

• Emergency Alerts
  • Students, Faculty, and Staff have the opportunity to sign up for SeminoleSafe updates, sent to their phones and FSU emails, keeping them up-to-date on any emergency alerts including weather and any other safety concerns. The FSU Emergency Management Department also offers real-time weather updates here. This includes several forecasts, Radar, satellite imagery, and a national weather map. 

• Student Support–Food for Thought Pantry & Weather Readiness

• The FSU Department of Student Support and Transitions also offers further resources for once severe weather has been confirmed. They offer a list of important resources for students to collect, and, to assist in some of the financial burden, the Food for Thought Pantry offers help. The pantry is open regularly between 8 PM and 5 PM on weekdays, and during past weather such as hurricanes and tropical storms has offered students the opportunity to create Hurricane Bags, including a variety of foods to last through any potential shelter-in-place orders or power outages.

• Mobile Hazard Response Guides
  • The FSU Emergency Management Department also offers Mobile Emergency Response Guides and information on Frequently Asked Questions about various weather types such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and extreme temperatures. These offer insight into what constitutes severe weather for each category and how a student can prepare for all kinds of disasters depending on type and severity. 

Closing

We’re facing a changing climate and changing weather patterns. Storms are growing harder to predict and more intense. Knowing what to do in the face of these new weather patterns and what resources are available could be life-saving, or at the very least, help make these storms and other severe weather a little less stressful. Good preparation is the best response to any disaster or unexpected crisis.