Wet cold Dry cold

[modeller]

Why do I feel so much colder on a damp day than when its much colder but dry. ? Or is it just me ?
Recently we have had several days of severe frosts and 5* below freezing temps and its been quite pleasant outside , but today it is misty much warmer with temps 6* above freezing and yet it feels much colder. I could understand it if I was getting wet and it was evaporating but that is not the case I am bone dry.

[modeller]

A Canadian friend said to me he couldn't stand the cold of an English winter and yet he came from northern Canada where the temperature dropped to -30*C below freezing .

[Clanad]

Your question employs a phrase within which is the answer... "Why do I feel..." relates to 'wind chill'... Temperature is absolute, whether measured in still air or in air that is moving... it's just that the moving air on damp skin will feel colder than in still air. The evaporation of moisture on ones skin makes the person "feel" colder than the actual temperature, therefore a 'damp day' will produce a colder 'feeling'...

By the way, to feel the effects of wind chill doesn't neccessarily require a windy day... just walking or moving through the damp air will produce a smaller result of the phenomena...

[naomi24]

I don't know the answer to your question. but like modeller I have Canadian friends who are used to temperatures of -30,and yet when they come here in temperatures of +5, they can't stand the cold. I have to make them hot water bottles to take to bed!

[modeller]

Yes makes sense , I wonder if breathing the damp air is also a factor ?