Bulldogs and Ashburn community members have experienced dramatic shifts in the weather throughout March as warm summer sneak peaks switch to cold, unbearable conditions from day to day.
For many, the rapidly changing weather doesn’t just affect what is worn to school–it disrupts schedules and influences emotional well being. From unexpected tornado warnings to lovely spring breezes, Bulldogs are unsure of what to expect these days.
“I hate the constant weather changes, ” junior Julie Belk said. “Spring is supposed to be bright and warm, but it’s been rainy and cold. Spring sports are feeling more like Winter ones. I really hope the weather finally locks in and stops switching up on us.”
The weather “switch ups” are seen as not just an inconvenience, but something that has an impact on the day ahead. Countless students see their mood being a reflection of the contradictory weather; Bulldogs report gloomy conditions dampen their emotional state while sunshine raises spirits.
“My mood is affected by the daily weather because when it is sunnier, I am more energized, and when it is cold and rainy, I feel more down,” junior Ada Rizley said. “This past month we’ve experienced varying temperatures from day to day that has caused me to encounter different emotions from day to day.”
The frustration extends beyond mood swings and has affected many student athletes. As the cold weather becomes unbearable with rain, it causes cancellations for particular sports including softball, baseball, and tennis.
“The rain this season has been really annoying because the drainage on the [softball] field is bad so even if it barely rains the field is unplayable,” senior Sierra Saylor said. “With the weather changing constantly we’ve had a hard time getting real practices in because there is only so much we can do at indoor practices so it’s harder to be prepared for games.”
The challenges student athletes face with anticipating the fluctuating weather peaked when thunderstorm sirens suddenly went off at school around 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, a time when many sports practices are still in session. While some athletes were wrapping and others were still on courts and fields practicing, the seemingly decent weather turned abruptly into wind and downpour accompanied with the wail of sirens.
“I had stayed behind after [tennis] to get some extra practice in and to have fun in the seemingly nice weather,” junior Rosie Witham said. “While I was expecting rain to come eventually, I wasn’t prepared for the amount of rain or the timing. The sirens that went off were a complete shock because I didn’t know they existed, adding to the intensity of the situation which is fun to look back on.”
Once the storm had subsided, there was once again hope for spring weather to last but quickly this dream was washed away. The tornado warning that the school faced the following Monday, March 16, continuing to highlight the unpredictability of weather this March so far. While talk of a tornado that hit the night prior, many Bulldogs were adamant that it would not escalate past a rumor. The following morning, however, the skeptical assumptions would be proven wrong.
“I thought that Monday’s weather was going to be a fluke,” freshman Reagan Perrotta said. “I feel like the weather channels and the news always exaggerate the storms, so I was not expecting it to say the least. I used to live in Nebraska, so I know the signs and conditions tornadoes form in. The threat was definitely there, but I had barely any confidence that anything would form.”
While severe weather events have captured countless Bulldogs’ attention lately, students remain optimistic about the arrival of warm weather that will last.
“I’m hoping after spring break the weather will stay warm,” senior Naz Altunkaya said. “On the days that have been warm this month I’ve been going on walks. It makes me really excited for the spring weather that’s coming.”
