Towards the end of August (specifically from the 18th to the 29th), there were several rain showers in the Tampa area, some being strong enough to call forth thunder. This can happen at any time of day, from passing periods to dismissal time. As such, there are many things to do in response.  

Some find the rain to be quite calming, especially while at home. “Seeing the before and after of how the landscape actually changes, it kind of relaxes me,” says chemistry teacher, Mrs. Bermudez-Luna. In contrast to sitting outside and watching the rain shower, junior Isla Farrer has a different preference. “I do enjoy it when I’m at home and I’m playing video games…and I can just chillax,” said Farrer. 

But what about when you’re on the road? Driving in the rain is quite different from driving in clear skies, as it can be harder to see.  “It’s not the worst, but your tires will skid, and you’ll have to brake earlier than you usually do,” said Farrer. Drivers aren’t in too much peril, but “it’s dangerous to the people that don’t react to the conditions”, said Driver’s Ed teacher, Coach Baldwin. 

Baldwin advises to “create more space between the car in front of you…slow down sooner…and you [be] more aware of other drivers” when out in the rain. He also suggests that you should only really be driving in this weather if you must, as an extra precaution. 

At school, though, the rain becomes a nuisance. Now, traversing the campus can result in getting wet. Although the staff recommends staying under the covered areas, sometimes, “the rain splashes you and all that,” said Farrer. But some folks don’t seem to mind, as they journey out into the open courtyard despite the downpour. 

The rain does a lot more than get us wet, though. “It’s essential for life in general”, said Bermudez-Luna. Because the rain is just water that falls from the sky. “You can live without food; you cannot live without water”, she said, furthering her point. Water does many things for our bodies, such as cooling us down or replenishing vital fluids. Rain (and other forms of precipitation) is also how water is returned from the air and back down to Earth, giving us this precious liquid. 

And beyond the basics of life, it can affect human society’s more complex needs. Too much rain can flood streets and make it extra hard to get around, or even destroy buildings. But not enough, and it gets harder to grow food that we also need. 

Overall, the rain has a complicated perception. For some, it’s terrible. Others, a nice, calming event. But it’s important to keep in mind that sometimes, lightning comes with it, especially in the lightning capital, Tampa. In each classroom at Steinbrenner, there is a paper with lightning and other extreme weather safety on it that you can check if you are ever unsure of what to do. 

But the most important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t let a little rain ruin your day!