As Britons, we enjoy discussing the weather, regardless of the time of year. With winter here, temperatures are dropping, and some parts of the UK are experiencing particularly cold weather. Combined with persistent rain, going outside can be quite gloomy, leading many to eagerly anticipate the arrival of spring.
When we mention our weather challenges on social media, individuals from other countries often mock our complaints, suggesting that the cold can’t be that severe since certain areas of the UK rarely see significant snowfall. While it’s true that not everyone deals with heavy snow removal during winter, the cold we face is very real and can sometimes feel colder than winter in places like Canada for a specific reason.
In an Instagram video, Ashley Zixuan explained this phenomenon. She highlighted that while Canada needs lower temperatures to produce thick snow blankets compared to the UK’s typical rainy weather, the combination of near-freezing temperatures and rain in the UK can create a sensation of greater coldness due to the damp conditions.
Ashley’s video focused on why the cold can be intense in London, but her insights can be applied to many regions across the UK. While areas like Scotland undeniably experience colder temperatures than the south of England, Ashley’s scientific explanations can help clarify the cold weather experienced by all in the UK.
She pointed out, “This is due to heat conductivity. London’s air is damp, which results in high thermal conductivity due to the combination of cold and humidity. This causes water molecules in the air to draw heat away from your skin faster than in dry air. In contrast, Canada’s cold is often dry, leading to slower heat loss.”
The harsh winter conditions in the UK are not solely due to heat conductivity. During summer, narrow streets in some urban areas can make conditions feel stifling and hot, but in winter, this situation creates the opposite effect, especially on windy days.
Ashley elaborated, “London’s historic streets create an urban canyon effect where wind gets compressed through narrow alleys, moving faster and stripping heat away from your skin, making you feel colder. Additionally, wind reduces the effectiveness of clothing.”
She also noted that buildings in Canada generally have better insulation than those in the UK, where many old and listed structures have single-glazed windows that allow cold air to penetrate.
While British homes are not designed for summer heat, lacking air conditioning and proper ventilation for cooling, many properties also struggle to retain warmth during winter.
Viewers of the video were surprised to finally understand the reason behind the sensation they had felt for years regarding UK temperatures. Some shared experiences of finding London’s cold more unbearable than that of snowy destinations like Switzerland, even without snow.
One individual commented, “I had a friend from Norway claim that UK winters are worse than Norway! I think Scotland is much harsher than England.”
Another added, “Finally, someone explained it well! In countries like Switzerland, Poland, or Germany, we experience lower temperatures but can still engage in winter activities. However, London’s wet cold is unbearable; it’s a different kind of chill that challenges our efforts to stay warm and dry.”
A third person wrote, “London feels colder than Moscow. Despite the higher temperature here, it feels freezing.”
For quick access to valued news, consider selecting Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News.