La Nina

This is a La Nina year. For homeless individuals in large parts of California, that means it will be generally warmer and drier than usual. (If you are in the Pacific Northwest, it means you will get yet more rain than usual. Sorry.)

So far this year, the rainy season has involved milder temperatures and less rain than last year. Last year, I camped under a bridge for many weeks. It was the first time I had ever slept under a bridge in the years I have been homeless. So far this year, I have not done that once.

We check the weather regularly, especially when it is very hot, very cold or at all wet. We check the hourly weather reports to help us decide when to leave the library and head home. We check the 10 day forecast to plan ahead. And this year our planning was impacted by learning that it is a La Nina year.

If you can find some means to access the internet, there is a wealth of information available these days that can help mitigate some of the worst challenges of being homeless. One of those things is dealing with weather.

If you have a smartphone, you can check the weather from almost anywhere, almost any time. This is information you should stay on top of. Getting wet and getting cold can lead to hypothermia. This is a potentially life threatening situation on the street.