Discussing the weather is a cherished British pastime, regardless of the season. As winter approaches, temperatures are falling and London has started to feel bitterly cold. Add to that the near-constant rainfall making outdoor ventures unpleasant, and most of us are already waiting for spring to come back around.
However, mention the weather on social media, and you’ll inevitably encounter people from abroad insisting it can’t be that cold here because some parts of the UK rarely get snow – and when they do, it’s hardly substantial.
Whilst it’s true we don’t spend winter clearing six inches of snow from our drives, the cold we endure is genuine – and can actually feel colder than places such as Canada during winter for one particular reason.
In a video posted on Instagram, Ashley Zixuan explained that whilst temperatures must be lower in Canada to produce thick snow rather than the rain the UK experiences, encountering rain combined with near-freezing temperatures can make it feel colder due to 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 London feels so bitter during the winter months. During summer, the narrow streets in some UK cities can make conditions feel more stifling and hot, but in winter, this has the opposite effect – particularly when it’s windy.
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.”
Finally, Ashley noted that Canadian buildings are also simply better insulated than those in Britain. The UK still has numerous old and listed buildings with single-glazed windows that allow considerable amounts of cold air inside.
Whilst our homes aren’t designed for summer heat, lacking air conditioning and without adequate ventilation for cool air circulation, many Britons are also living in properties that perform poorly during winter’s chill.
Viewers of the video were astonished that they could finally understand a sensation they’ve experienced for years regarding UK temperatures. Some remarked that whilst they enjoy skiing holidays in destinations such as Switzerland, they cannot tolerate London’s cold, even without snow on the ground.
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 commented: “London feels colder than Moscow. Even tho the temperature is higher here, it feels freezing.”
