Weather can significantly affect a student’s commute, influencing travel time, attendance, and daily planning.
Heavy rain, thunderstorms and extreme heat can make walking, biking or scootering to class more difficult and in some cases, dangerous. Students may have to take longer routes, use campus shuttles, or adjust their schedule to avoid dangerous conditions.
For students who walk or bike to class, changing weather conditions can create challenges before they even arrive on campus.
Heavy rainfall can reduce visibility and create standing water along sidewalks and roadways, while thunderstorms can bring lightning, strong winds and sudden downpours. During periods of extreme heat, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can also increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.
One way students can prepare by checking the forecast before leaving for campus.
Looking beyond the day’s high temperature can help students better understand the conditions they may encounter during their commute. Factors such as precipitation, humidity, wind, and the timing of storms can all affect travel plans.
Not every rainy day requires students to change their commute, but severe weather can be a different story. Students should stay informed about changing conditions by following weather updates through South Carolina ETV and Public Radio.