Is the rain cold?
Is the rain cold?
Rain can be cold or warm depending on many different factors. Rainwater temperature is usually close to the surrounding air temperature, so the same shower can feel mild in summer and cold in winter.
What affects the temperature of rain?
Rain temperature is affected mainly by the following factors:
- Air temperature: The temperature of the rain is often close to the temperature of the air from which it falls. If the air is cold, the rain is likely to be cold too.
- Season: In summer the rain can be warmer, while in winter it is usually colder.
- Geographical location: In tropical regions, rain is usually warmer than in northern regions, where the air temperature is lower.
- Atmospheric pressure and weather conditions: Low pressure areas and storms can bring cooler air and thus colder rain.
Why does rain often feel colder than it is?
Rain can feel colder on the skin than its actual temperature because it evaporates quickly from the skin's surface. This evaporation process takes heat with it, which makes the rain feel cooler or colder than it really is – especially in windy weather.
Summary
Rain is not always cold: its temperature depends on air temperature, season, geographical location and weather conditions. In summer and in tropical regions, rain can even be pleasantly warm, while winter rain is almost always cold. On the skin, rain often feels colder than its actual temperature because evaporation cools the skin.
Source: Finnish Meteorological Institute
