Wet cold vs. dry cold: the science behind the difference

Do you think the dry cold in Alberta is different from a wet cold in P.E.I.? Here's why the difference isn't necessarily what people think it is.

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[lifefordummies]

I am from Newfoundland. I have worked up north where it gets as cold as -54. The coldest I have ever felt in my life is 3 degrees in Newfoundland, rain with the wind coming right off the North Atlantic Ocean. It pretty much as cold as water can get before it turns into snow, and the wind is coming right off a winter ocean. There is no amount of clothing you can wear to be warm and comfortable in that. A 12 hour night shift of construction in those conditions will make you question your career choice.

[daltontallman]

I feel like a deeper look is needed.. cause that just doesn't cut it for a lot of us who live in this weather.

[dirkjones]

Sorry but I don't agree. Humid cold is to the bone and hard to shake off even when we come indoors.

[peterscott]

I've always considered damp cold to apply more when it's near freezing. Say right around 1C. They dry vs damp seems to make more difference. I agree at -20C, the air is pretty dry regardless.

[Gio-ueps]

im glad most of the commenters agreed but this video is bogus. humidity makes heat & cold more extreme. everyone knows it

[mineown]

A convincing argument, so the next damp cold day I'll have that as consolation while I shiver and the next dry damp day I'll say it's all in my mind as I don't.

[petertyrrell]

Yeah? Sorry, humidity makes a huge difference. Example? My basement in the summer get's very humid and it feels unbearable warm. If I run only a dehumidifier in my basement, there is no temperature change, but it seems cooler.
In the winter, without a humidifier in my house, we feel cold. After we bring the humidity up to 45%, we feel comfortable again.

[shanti]

I beg to differ ! Damp is definitely more chilling ! For sure.

[hussain]

finally something useful DO MORE VIDS LIKE THIS !

[TicePatricia]

You're talking about temperatures that are well below freezing and that's different. When the temps don't dip below freezing at night, the air never gets wrung out and the relative humidity stays super high making even comparatively warm temperatures feel so much colder. You can have episodes of rain in the 40s that don't feel that wet because it's been below freezing overnight for weeks and the overall moisture levels are low: high relative humidity at night below freezing means VERY low relative humidity when things warm up in the day. A front can come through in the upper air and dump rain, yes, but on the ground the air remains dry because it gets precipitated out in some form of ice every night. On the other hand, if temps never dip below freezing, the humidity stays high day and night and the moisture sticks like glue to your bones. I can tell if it's been freezing when I go places because my lips dry out miserably.

[lamarwilliams]

I call bogus. I’ve been in 100 plus degree weather and -20 degree not including wind chill. If you are wet in the cold? You will fill miserable. If you are wet in the heat? It is tolerable. If you are dry in extreme heat? You will sweat while standing and have to consume plenty of water. I never noticed a change in my water consumption in the extreme cold. I was to busy trying to find heat. LoL I have been on the shoreline and inland in both situations and inland in any extreme temperature is the place for me.

[daltontallman]

It's -27 but with the wind chill factor -37 here in Slave Lake Alberta.. and it is very noticeable on my bare face that the humidity plays a huge factor

[karenacton]

Wet cold = Provinces with water surrounding them, you sweat like a dog in the heat and freeze in the wet.
Dry cold = prairie provinces, dry, itchy skin in the cold.
There….done.

[therezboysoutdoors]

I disagree 86% humidity with a 23 degree day heck no

[brianbell]

Yeah, not buying it. This is one of those places where science is "right" but still out of touch with experienced reality. I live in southern Sweden, in a city where the temperature is more or less around 0 c in the winter, relative humidity 90-95%. I ski. We go north and the temp is -20 or lower, relative humidity say 45-55% or lower. I would choose to stand around outside and "chat" up north (and have) over being stuck outside on a damp winter day 100% of the time. PS: Swedes "know" how to dress in the winter. It doesn't help much sometimes...

[PipenFalzy]

I'll take a - 40 Winnipeg over a - 20/30 Toronto any day!

[startermaniac]

Winter is coming. Borrowed from some show.

[oddunb]

It’s still TWICE AS MUCH water per litre ffs…

[kbwzyqg]

I'm so tired to explain people that wet cold doesn't colder than dry cold, that also opposite 😂😂