MMXXVI VOL21 No.921

Hiroo Onoda surrendered 52 years ago

COLUMN II 1$

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Wet cold weather, miserable and cruel

There are places in the world where the temperature is not that low yet it still chills you to the bone. This article explains what wet cold is, lists the 70 places in the world most affected by this type of cold with an index developed by col2.com, the top 10 and a brief field guide on how to protect yourself
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Wet cold weather, miserable and cruel

There are places in this world where the temperature is not that low yet you still feel cold to the bone. You layer up and it seems pointless. The cold works its way through your clothes and you keep feeling frozen.

Why am I so cold? It is only 15°C (59F)! The answer is a phenomenon called “wet cold”, a type of cold caused by a mix of low temperatures, high relative humidity in the air whether it rains or not, an effect that becomes stronger when the wind blows.

Cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Dublin, Copenhagen, Seattle, San Francisco, Tokyo or Shanghai deal with wet cold. There are days when it is not that chilly yet you start feeling cold and you cannot shake it off.

This article explains what wet cold is and why it forms. It then lists the 70 places in the world most affected by this type of cold, using a custom miserability index developed by col2.com, since neither science nor meteorology study phenomena based on subjective criteria such as feeling colder than the actual temperature. After awarding the 10 places with the worst wet cold in the world, the article offers a brief field guide on how to try to protect yourself from it if such a thing is possible.

4What is weat cold weather

Wet cold occurs when low temperature meets high humidity. Wind or rain can worsen it but they are not required, only some cold and high relative humidity in the air.

Damp air pulls heat from the body faster than it can be replaced and faster than dry cold. Clothes absorb moisture and insulation loses effectiveness so the chill reaches the skin.

wet cold weather
In wet cold weather you layer up yet you still feel chilly.

Moist air raises thermal conductivity, wind strips the thin layer of warm air that naturally forms right around your body and moisture reduces the trapped air in fabrics. The result is faster heat loss and less effective clothing which explains why wet cold climates feel colder than dry regions at the same thermometer reading.

A classic situation, although it may differ in various locations would be that below 20°C (68F) you start to feel cold. Below 15°C (59F) you need to grab a jacket. Below 10°C (50F) you layer up and it feels ineffective. At 0°C (32F) or below it feels like an Arctic blast.

Wet cold is cruel because you feel chilly even when the temperature is not that low. Wet cold is miserable because you layer up and it does no good. You cannot shake it off.

3Places in the world most affected by wet cold

These are the 70 locations in the world with the worst wet cold weather, rated with a custom col2.com cold wet scale from 1 to 10 (from less to most severe, miserable and cruel feeling). The methodology is explained at the bottom of the list.

The reason we had to create a custom scale is that there is no officially or scientifically accepted wet cold scale because meteorology does not classify cold by how it feels on the human body.

There are no subjective comfort scales. Instead science measures objective variables like temperature, humidity, wind speed and precipitation separately. Wet cold is a combined sensory experience, not a single measurable quantity.

wet cold weather
London Rain by Francis James Mortimer, 1903.

The British Isles sit in the path of Atlantic systems that carry moist ocean air across every season. Surrounded by water on all sides, the region receives steady humidity at moderate temperatures that cool the body faster than the thermometer readings suggest. Maritime winds push damp air inland so even mild days feel colder once moisture settles on clothes and skin. Thus, wet cold becomes a defining pain of daily life in the affected locations.

  • Edinburgh UK (Wet Cold 7) – Maritime air from the North Atlantic brings frequent clouds and drizzle at 3°C to 8°C (37F to 46F) which makes the city feel colder than inland places at the same temperature. In Scottish this weather is called “Dreich”; cold, wet, grey and miserable all at once.
  • Glasgow UK (Wet Cold 7) – Similar temperatures to Edinburgh with more rain passing through the Clyde valley, damp air and wind increase the chill. Another expression used in Scotland for miserable cold is “Baltic”.
  • London UK (Wet Cold 6) – Cool Atlantic air stays humid at 5°C to 10°C (41F to 50F), moisture pulls heat from the body faster than dry air. In the Big Smoke and in the southeast of England they say it is “raw” when the cold is damp, penetrating and unpleasant. Im the north thy say it is “nithering”. The term “raw weather” is also used in numerous places in North America and Continental Europe.
  • Galway Ireland (Wet Cold 8) – Faces the open Atlantic where moist ocean air arrives with rain at 5°C to 10°C (41F to 50F) and keeps everything damp.
  • Dublin Ireland (Wet Cold 7) – Surrounded by the Atlantic, humid air at 6°C to 11°C (43F to 52F) plus frequent light rain creates a raw chill. “Soft day, thank God” and a “grand soft day” are classic Irish phrases for a day of mist, drizzle and damp chill.
  • Cork Ireland (Wet Cold 7) – Atlantic systems bring mild but humid air at 5°C to 10°C (41F to 50F), cold seeps into clothes rather than staying outside.
wet cold weather
Bergen, Norway has the best that cold wet weather can offer; it rains around 220-280 days per year, it snows 10-20 days per year, between 200 and 250 days it feels frigging cold.

Northern and western Continetal Europe contain many wet cold regions shaped by the Atlantic’s influence, steady humidity and mild temperatures that feel colder than they appear.

  • Amsterdam Netherlands (Wet Cold 6) – Close to the North Sea with low elevation, air at 3°C to 7°C (37F to 45F) holds moisture that makes the cold feel heavier. Like in London they call it “Guur weer” which means raw weather.
  • Rotterdam Netherlands (Wet Cold 6) – Maritime air flows up the Rhine delta at similar temperatures and humidity, damp fog and drizzle reduce the warmth‑preserving effect of clothing.
  • The Hague Netherlands (Wet Cold 6) – Direct exposure to the North Sea keeps humidity high at 3°C to 7°C (37F to 45F), wind and damp air enhance heat loss.
  • Bruges Belgium (Wet Cold 6) – Closer to the North Sea, marine air at 2°C to 7°C (36F to 45F) plus frequent drizzle produces a clammy cold.
  • Brussels Belgium (Wet Cold 5) – Moist sea air moves inland and cools to 2°C to 7°C (36F to 45F) trapping humidity under clouds which leads to a lingering chill. In Belgium they say that “Il fait un temps de chien”, a common expression in other parts of Europe that literally means “it is dog weather”.
  • Antwerp Belgium (Wet Cold 5) – River and maritime influence keep the air damp at 2°C to 7°C (36F to 45F), cold radiates through wet surfaces and clothing.
  • Brittany France (Wet Cold 7) – Almost surrounded by the Atlantic, storms bring humid air at 5°C to 10°C (41F to 50F) and constant spray that chills exposed skin.
  • Normandy France (Wet Cold 6) – Facing the Channel with cool sea air at 4°C to 9°C (39F to 48F) and frequent wind, wet cold spreads along the coast.
  • Lille France (Wet Cold 5) – Closer to the North Sea, ocean moisture meets inland air at 2°C to 7°C (36F to 45F) and creates a persistent dampness.
  • Paris France (Wet Cold 4) – Atlantic weather systems arrive with moist air at 3°C to 8°C (37F to 46F), low clouds and drizzle make the city feel colder than the readings suggest. In France when the weather is miserable they say “Il fait un froid de canard”, “It is a duck’s cold”.
  • Bergen Norway (Wet Cold 9) – Moist Atlantic air hits nearby mountains, rises and cools, constant rain at 1°C to 7°C (34F to 45F) keeps humidity extremely high.
  • Copenhagen Denmark (Wet Cold 6) – Bordered by cool seas on both sides, air at 0°C to 5°C (32F to 41F) rarely dries out and stays uncomfortably damp.
  • Basque Country Spain (Wet Cold 8) – Bay of Biscay air at 8°C to 15°C carried by the Atlantic westerlies is pushed upward by the coastal hills, cools and stays saturated, creating constant dampness. This persistent humidity makes people feel cold even at 19°C (66F). This is one of the worst wet cold weather zones in the world.
  • Nothern coast of Spain Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria (Wet Cold 7) – Atlantic moisture cools over hills at 8°C to 14°C (46F to 57F), long rainy spells produce steady wet cold rather than brief showers. Tourists arrive expecting the mild, sunny, hot weather that Spain is known for. They came to the wrong place. During Fall, Winter and Spring they are affected by wet cold weather. The interior is a huge, cold and snowy mountain range called the Cantabrian Range. Galicia is one of the rainiest regions in Europe.
  • Porto Portugal (Wet Cold 7) – Atlantic storms bring humid air at 8°C to 15°C (46F to 59F), buildings and clothing hold moisture that deepens the chill.
  • Northern coastal towns Portugal (Wet Cold 7) – Same ocean pattern as Porto with cool marine air and frequent rain that turn mild readings into penetrating cold.
wet cold weather
A rainy day in San Francisco. Powell Street on Mar 24, 1945.

North America shows wet cold along its Pacific and Atlantic coasts where maritime air keeps winters humid and cool.

  • St. John’s Canada (Wet Cold 9) – Exposed to North Atlantic storms with temperatures near freezing at 0°C to 3°C (32F to 37F) and strong winds that drive wet cold into every layer.
  • Vancouver Canada (Wet Cold 8) – Surrounded by ocean and mountains, moist air at 2°C to 7°C (36F to 45F) rains out over the city and keeps humidity high. In Canada they say that the cold is “bone‑chilling”.
  • Halifax Canada (Wet Cold 7) – Cold Atlantic air at 0°C to 5°C (32F to 41F) carries moisture from the sea, sleet and wet snow raise heat loss through clothing.
  • Quebec City Canada (Wet Cold 5) – Early winter brings 0°C to 3°C with high humidity and a mix of rain and wet snow, creating a damp chill that feels harsher than the temperature suggests. Later in the season, the deeper freeze dries the air and the cold becomes less humid.
  • Seattle USA (Wet Cold 8) – Pacific storms and constant cloud cover bring long periods of rain at 3°C to 9°C, leaving the ground, air and clothing damp. The moisture removes warmth quickly, creating a raw, penetrating chill described as “bone‑chilling” and “soaking cold”.
  • Juneau USA (Wet Cold 8) – Moist Pacific air meets cold land at 0°C to 4°C (32F to 39F), rain, wet snow and fog create dense, bone deep cold.
  • Sitka USA (Wet Cold 8) – Island location in the Gulf of Alaska, ocean storms bring near constant precipitation at close to freezing temperatures.
  • Portland USA (Wet Cold 7) – Slightly inland but still under Pacific influence, drizzle at 2°C to 8°C (36F to 46F) leads to a deep, persistent chill.
  • San Francisco USA (Wet Cold 6) – Cool Pacific water and marine fog keep humidity high at 8°C to 14°C. The moist ocean air flows inland, stays saturated and blocks sunlight, the city rarely warms up. This constant damp, cloudy air makes the cold feel sharper and more penetrating than the temperature alone suggests.
wet cold weather
Rainy day on Rambla de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina in 1928.

South America has wet cold in its far southern regions, where the cold, stormy waters near Antarctica bring moist air that creates a damp, chilly climate.

  • Ushuaia Argentina (Wet Cold 9) – Antarctic Ocean air stays humid at 0°C to 6°C (32F to 43F) with frequent wet snow and wind that strip heat quickly.
  • Coastal Patagonia Argentina (Wet Cold 8) – Cold sea temperatures and strong westerly winds keep moist air moving along the coast, low readings feel brutal.
  • Chiloé Chile (Wet Cold 9) – Island location in the Pacific, moist ocean air and frequent storms at 6°C to 12°C (43F to 54F) make everything feel soaked.
  • Valdivia Chile (Wet Cold 8) – Pacific fronts bring heavy rain at 7°C to 13°C (45F to 55F), the ground, buildings and air remain saturated.
  • Puerto Montt Chile (Wet Cold 8) – Similar latitude and exposure as Valdivia, constant showers over cool water create classic wet cold.
wet cold weather
New Zealand lies in a cool marine belt of the South Hemisphere where the surrounding ocean keeps the air saturated with moisture. Cold air masses from the Southern Ocean move over these waters then reach the islands with high humidity which produces a persistent wet cold effect even when rain is absent. The mountains force this moist air upward which enhances condensation and lowers temperature. This combination of cool air and sustained humidity generates wet cold conditions.

Oceania has several maritime climates where humidity and wind create a persistent chill.

  • Wellington New Zealand (Wet Cold 8) – Strong winds funnel through the strait at 8°C to 14°C (46F to 57F) driving moist air.
  • Auckland New Zealand (Wet Cold 6) – Surrounded by sea on two sides, humid air at 10°C to 16°C (50F to 61F) makes cool days feel surprisingly chilly.
  • Hobart Australia (Wet Cold 6) – Southern Ocean waters keep the air cool and moist at 6°C to 12°C (43F to 54F), wind and showers turn mild numbers into shivers.
wet cold weather
Rainy night somewhere outside Tokyo.

East Asia shows wet cold in regions where winter humidity or seasonal rains combine with moderate temperatures.

  • Tokyo Japan (Wet Cold 6) – Winter ranges from 5°C to 12°C with humid air and frequent light rain. The moisture in the air slows down warming and keeps the chill lingering, the city often feels colder than the numbers on the thermometer would imply.
  • Busan South Korea (Wet Cold 7) – Coastal city exposed to winter winds over the sea, damp air near freezing amplifies heat loss.
  • Incheon South Korea (Wet Cold 6) – Located on the coast facing the sea between Korea and China, where cold, moist air and frequent sea fog make 0°C to 5°C feel sharper and more uncomfortable.
  • Shanghai China (Wet Cold 8) – Along the East China Sea, cold air at 3°C to 9°C (37F to 48F) holds plenty of moisture which produces a heavy, penetrating chill.
  • Taipei Taiwan (Wet Cold 5) – Warm seas around the island keep humidity high even in cooler months, with temperatures of 15°C to 20°C. The constant moisture in the air makes the chill settle into buildings, creating a damp, clammy feeling.
wet cold weather
Times Square in March, 1943. New York is not that affected by wet cold weather because the city sits on the northeast edge of the American continent where winter air arrives from inland Canada with low humidity. This dry cold does not create the wet cold effect since the air lacks the moisture needed to cling to the skin. The Atlantic adds some humidity yet the dominant winter pattern remains continental which keeps the city cold but not soaked in damp chill.

The col2.com Wet Cold scale from 1 to 10 is based on a combination of measurable climate factors and how the human body perceives cold in humid environments. The rating considers four main elements;

  • Average winter temperature, especially when it sits just above freezing where dampness feels harsh.
  • Relative humidity, since moist air conducts heat away from the body faster.
  • Frequency and type of precipitation, including drizzle, wet snow and persistent mist that keep clothing and surfaces damp.
  • Wind exposure, which strips away the thin warm layer of air around the skin.

Locations with mild temperatures but extremely high humidity and constant wetness score highest because this combination produces the most penetrating, uncomfortable form of cold.

2Top 10 places with more unbearable wet cold weather in the world

…and the winners are. These are the top 10 places with the most unbearable wet cold weather in the world from worse to worst;

  • Galway Ireland (Wet Cold 8) – Open Atlantic winds mix rain, mist and chill at 5°C to 10°C. The result is a sneaky, persistent cold that gets under your clothes.
  • Basque Country Spain (Wet Cold 8) – Moist air from the Bay of Biscay at 8°C to 15°C makes the cold cling to your skin. Any temperature below 19°C (66F) becomes uncomfortable and feels much colder than the same temperature in dry, cold places.
  • Sitka USA (Wet Cold 8) – Storms from the Gulf of Alaska bring constant rain and near‑freezing temperatures. Always wet, always sharp.
  • Juneau USA (Wet Cold 8) – Chilly Pacific air brings fog and slushy snow at 0°C to 4°C. The cold seeps slowly into your bones.
  • Vancouver Canada (Wet Cold 8) – Ocean air and nearby mountains trap moisture at 2°C to 7°C. It feels like living inside a cold, damp sponge.
  • Seattle USA (Wet Cold 8) – Light rain and drizzle at 3°C to 9°C keep the air constantly moist. Nothing dries, and the chill sticks to you all day.
  • Chiloé Chile (Wet Cold 9) – Pacific storms keep the island soaked at 6°C to 12°C. The dampness gets into everything and never really lets go.
  • Ushuaia Argentina (Wet Cold 9) – Air from the ocean around Antarctica brings 0°C to 6°C with slushy snow and wind. It’s a raw, biting wet cold that truly feels like the end of the world.
  • St. John’s Canada (Wet Cold 9) – Storms roll in from the North Atlantic with freezing drizzle and strong winds at 0°C to 3°C. The cold feels like it’s being thrown at you from the sea.
  • Bergen Norway (Wet Cold 9) – Damp Atlantic air hits the hills and turns into nonstop rain at 1°C to 7°C. The moisture hangs in the air, the cold slips through every layer of clothing.

1How to protect yourself against wet cold weather

To counter the sensation of wet cold it is best to wear warm clothing with an outer layer that resists moisture. A synthetic waterproof and wind resistant material works well.

The inner lining, whether synthetic or down, should stay padded enough to hold warmth inside. The cuffs of the jacket, the neck area and even the hems of the pants should be able to close to keep moisture from getting in.

wet cold weather
It is a pain to layer up like crazy when it is only 10°C (50F) outside. Lt. Commander Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett, ready for wet cold weather after flying the first airplane to the North Pole on May 9, 1926.

Avoid cotton in the layers that touch the skin because cotton absorbs moisture and stops insulating. There is synthetic base layer clothing designed to push sweat and moisture outward and keep the skin dry.

A hat and gloves reduce heat loss from the head and hands. Waterproof boots that allow you to tuck in the pant legs or even waterproof gaiters in the mountains help keep the legs warm.

Inside the house a dehumidifier can ease the sensation of wet cold by lowering relative humidity to 30-50 percent as long as the home is well insulated and the indoor temperature is not below 10ºC (50F).

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