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Rapid shifts from humid, summerlike heat to cold rain and thunderstorms have disrupted daily life for students at McLean, complicating commutes, outdoor activities and preparations for major exams.
Sophomore Inhee Do described the changing conditions as exhausting, saying students often do not know how to prepare for activities when one day feels like summer and the next turns cold.
Forecasts called for severe rain and thunderstorms, with temperatures ranging from about 50 degrees in the morning to nearly 100 degrees by the afternoon. The National Weather Service also warned of possible flooding and severe conditions in McLean during the week.
Heavy rain slowed the morning commute for some students. Sophomore Brady Chua said traffic moved so slowly that he nearly arrived late to his first-period class.
Thunderstorms and related warnings also forced numerous activities to be canceled or moved in less than a week. Soccer, track and tennis were among the affected sports.
Freshman Sajan Chandela, a varsity tennis player at McLean, said several recent practices and matches were put in jeopardy by the severe weather.
Students also reported that the gloomy conditions affected their stress and energy levels during a demanding stretch of SOL tests, final exams and AP tests. Although the weather did not cause destruction in McLean, its repeated swings have unsettled school life over the past several weeks.