Winter in the UK can be bitterly cold, and even though our temperatures don’t drop as low as they do in countries like Canada, it can actually feel colder here for an odd reason
As Brits, we love a good natter about the weather, regardless of the season. With winter upon us, temperatures are plummeting, and parts of the UK are feeling particularly chilly. Add to that the persistent rain that makes stepping outdoors a dreary affair, and most of us are already waiting for spring to arrive.
However, mention our weather woes on social media, and you’ll soon have folks from other countries scoffing at our complaints, insisting it can’t be that cold since parts of the country rarely see snow, and when they do, it’s hardly a thick blanket. While it’s true we don’t all spend our winters shovelling six inches of snow off our driveways, the cold we endure is very real – and can even feel colder than places like Canada in winter for one specific reason.
In an Instagram video, Ashley Zixuan shed light on this phenomenon. She explained that although Canadian temperatures must drop lower to produce thick blankets of snow instead of the UK’s typical rain, experiencing near-freezing temperatures coupled with rain can make it feel colder due to the damp conditions.
Ashley’s video focused on why the cold in London can be so harsh, but her insights can apply to many areas of the UK. While places like Scotland will undoubtedly get colder than the south of England, many of Ashley’s scientific points can be used to explain the cold that everyone in the UK experiences.
She said: “This is because of heat conductivity. London’s air is damp. Cold and humidity mean high thermal conductivity. This means that water molecules in the air will pull heat away from your skin faster than dry air. Canada’s cold is usually dry cold, so you lose heat more slowly.”
That’s not the only reason the UK feels so brutal during the winter months. During summer, the narrow streets in some of our built-up cities can make conditions feel more stifling and hot, but when winter arrives, this creates the opposite problem – particularly on windy days.
Ashley explained: “London’s historic streets create something called the urban canyon effect. Wind gets compressed through narrow alleys and moves faster. Faster wind strips heat away from your skin, so you feel colder. Wind also means that clothing is less effective.
“In Canadian suburbs, the street layout is wider, more open, and predictable. This means that the wind moves around the buildings instead of through them.”
Ashley also pointed out that Canadian buildings simply have better insulation than UK properties. The country still contains numerous old and listed structures with single-glazed windows that allow cold air to seep through.
Whilst British homes aren’t designed for summer heat – lacking air conditioning and proper ventilation for cool air – many properties also perform poorly during winter’s chill.
Viewers of the video were stunned to finally understand a sensation they’d experienced for years regarding UK temperatures. Several remarked that whilst they enjoy skiing holidays in destinations such as Switzerland, they find London’s cold unbearable, even without snow present.
One individual remarked: “I had a girl from Norway say that the UK winter is worse than Norway! I think Scotland is way worse than England.”
Another added: “Yes! Finally, someone explained it well! In Switzerland, Poland, or Germany, we get lower temperatures, but still can go skiing, do activities, or even go for a hike. But when I’m in London, it’s a different story. It’s unbearable because it’s a wet cold. It’s just different; it disrespects our jackets and any effort to stay dry and warm.”
A third wrote: “London feels colder than Moscow. Even though the temperature is higher here, it feels freezing.”
