Summer brings the heat to D.C.

WASHINGTON- School is out and summer has arrived but the American University‘s campus is almost empty as people try to deal with the temperatures in the mid-90s and high levels of humidity in the Washington, D.C. area.

Students and faculty on American University’s campus flee high temperatures in the 90s. Photo by Sydney Peirce

In “The Quad,” a large grassy area in the heart of AU’s campus, locals are usually found walking and enjoying the D.C. weather, but on Wednesday the massive rectangular area was deserted as people rushed quickly into air-conditioned buildings to escape the savage heat.

Carli Million, 17, said she is “exhausted” from the heat as she worked on a journalism project under the shade of a large oak on campus. She traveled to AU from Lodi, California for a national leadership conference this summer.

“I’m used to hot weather in California,” said Million. “But here it’s hot and sticky at 9 a.m.”

The young Californian shared a few of her methods for staying cool in the heat.

“Staying in the shade helps,” Million said. “I also drink lots of water. But I can’t avoid having to fix my make-up five times a day.”

Other locals have a different take on the weather. Cornelia Ansen, 56, has lived nearby in Maryland for six years and moved here from Ghana, Africa. She pushed an infant in a covered stroller to keep cool.

“Ghana is hot,” Ansen explained. “It has only two seasons, wet and dry. It is humid here.”

Ansen also spoke about how having a child increases the amount of time she spends outdoors, despite the heat.

“With a baby you have to go outside,” Ansen said. “You can’t keep them inside all the time.”

The heat in D.C. seems to be affecting everyone from mothers to young teens. However, this year’s heat has not yet set any record highs for the city.

The record high temperature still stands at 106 degrees Fahrenheit and was set in the year 1930. During the summer of 2012, the temperature reached one degree shy of the extreme high, climbing to a staggering 105. Since then, no temperature has come as close to setting a new record for the capital city.

While the temperature this week is a dozen degrees short of the record high, it still remains unpleasant for the people of D.C.

Yijie Chen, 21, has lived in the U.S. for two years since moving from China.

“The weather here is the same as in my home town,” said Chen. He wore shorts and a light shirt to stay comfortable in the sweltering heat and sunglasses to prevent bright sunlight from irritating his eyes.

Everyone has their own unique methods of staying cool when the temperatures climb.

“I go to places where they have AC,” said Chen. “And I eat lots of ice cream.”