Expect hot classrooms to start school year

Temperatures should be cooler than last year, but forecasters say students should expect hot classrooms starting Monday when when school starts.

The Hilo International Airport recorded mean average temperatures 2.4 degrees above average in July, data from the National Weather Service shows. That’s a drop from last year, when the average was 3.3 degrees above the 76.1 mean daily average for the month.

However, NWS Meteorologist John Bravender said Hilo has a 50-60 percent chance to see above-normal temperatures through the remainder of the calendar year thanks to wamer water temperatures left over from El Nino.

“We’re kind of in between El Nino and La Nina,” Bravender said. “It’s neutral conditions right now. This fall doesn’t look as hot as last year, but it’s still expected to be above normal — be prepared for warm and humid conditions.”

The state Department of Education released on Wednesday a list of heat illness prevention methods for parents including sending a water bottle with children to school, dressing them in lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and making sure they have a hat with a brim for protection during outdoor activities.

The department also said it plans to send home a letter to parents next week which will include tips to help students prepare for hot days.

The DOE is also working to install air conditioning units in 1,000 classrooms statewide as part of Gov. David Ige’s initiative to help cool Hawaii’s schools. However, only one school on the Big Island — Kahakai Elementary School in Kona — is included in that initial list of schools getting the units.

Bravender said temperatures are predicted to drop even more in 2017.

“For the first of the year, as we transition to cooler water temperatures, we’ll see outside temperatures ramping down as well,” he said.