Why is autumn colder than spring at the same temperature?

The temperature is exactly the same, but it doesn't feel the same from season to season . Why is that? Let's find out why fall is colder than spring even though the temperature is the same !

Why is autumn colder than spring at the same temperature?

“ The same temperature can feel completely different depending on the season, and it all depends on factors like humidity, dew point, sun angle, and even wind direction ,” explains Cheryl Nelson, a meteorologist and disaster preparedness expert based in Roanoke, Virginia. Here’s why temperatures like 60 degrees or even 67 degrees can feel warmer in the spring than they do in the fall.

High humidity makes the body feel warmer

Spring and summer are typically wetter than fall. As Nelson explains, “ moist air from the Gulf of Mexico often carries extra moisture into the atmosphere .” That raises the humidity and dew point. “ The dew point tells us how much moisture the air can hold before it feels stuffy ,” she says, “ and when the humidity is high, sweat doesn’t evaporate as easily, making us feel warmer and more uncomfortable even at lower temperatures .”

The sun is higher in the sky

The sun is at a different angle in the spring than it is in the fall: Because of the Earth's tilt, the sun is higher overhead and at a sharper angle. Erica Lopez, a meteorologist in Jacksonville, Florida, who works on the weather app MyRadar, explains that a higher sun provides more direct sunlight than when the sun is lower. " At a higher angle, the sunlight is stronger and focused on a smaller area, making you feel warmer ."

In contrast, in October and November, “ the sun is lower and more reflective, reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the ground and air, ” Lopez says. This is why you might feel like wearing a hoodie on a 16-degree morning in November, but feel comfortable wearing a sundress at the same temperature in February.

Warm ground radiates more heat

Part of what you experience, weather-wise, has to do with the ground beneath you. Warmer ground in the spring radiates heat into the air, and that makes you feel a little warmer. “ Think of asphalt radiating heat into the atmosphere ,” Nelson says. In the fall, the ground cools, making the air feel colder.

You are used to the weather last season

Your body will adapt to the season you've just experienced, says Jonathan Erdman, senior digital meteorologist at Weather.com. If it's early fall and you're just coming out of hot summer temperatures or you've just experienced a warm spell, " 16 degrees in the middle of the afternoon might be enough to make you reach for a light jacket ," says Erdman. " On the other hand, the first 16 degrees of spring in the afternoon might be so exhilarating that you might celebrate by going outside without a jacket ."

Wind speed

Fall tends to be windier than spring and summer, making it a little colder. " Stronger winds blow heat away from our skin more quickly ," says Erdman. That's why we feel cold.

Other factors that affect the body's perception of heat

The altitude of the area you are in

The air is thinner at high altitudes, and "at the same temperature, thinner air can feel colder, especially if it's dry and the sun isn't as strong, like in the fall," Lopez explains.

Area near water

Whether you're near a small or large body of water, " large bodies of water can moderate temperatures because water absorbs and releases heat more slowly than land ," says Lopez. " Coastal areas tend to have more moderate temperatures, and in the spring and fall, places near water can be warmer than inland areas at the same temperature ."

Your age

Older adults have lower body temperatures and have more difficulty regulating their body temperature to its maximum. Therefore, there are differences in temperature perception between older adults and adolescents.

Here are the reasons why you feel colder or cooler even at the same temperature in fall and spring.