Why Does 60 Degrees Feel Colder in Fall Than in the Spring in Indiana?

Does 60 degrees in fall somehow feel colder to you than the same temperature in spring? If so, there are some good explanations for that.

Fall is upon us in Indiana, and you know what that means: colder weather, bonfires, pumpkin spice, apple cider, and soups. You're busting out those hoodies for the cooler weather when temperatures (on average) are in the 60s, just to stay cozy. But have you noticed that 60 degrees doesn’t feel the exact same in fall as it does in spring and summer? Think about it, in the spring when the temperature is in the 60s, you are most likely still wearing a t-shirt (maybe even shorts in some cases), but in the fall, you are fully clothed. Why is that? It's the exact same temperature outside, but for some reason, it just feels colder in the fall.

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What's Up With That?!

You're probably thinking about it now. It's true, 60 might feel like t-shirt weather in April, but sweater weather in November. Well, Reader's Digest recently asked weather experts, "What's up with that?!" As it turns out, there are several reasons why it feels colder in the fall than it does in the spring.

1.  The humidity level.  It tends to be higher in spring.  When the humidity level is high, it tends to feel warmer.

2. The sun is higher. The sun is at a different angle in spring than in fall. At a higher angle, sunlight is intense and focused on a smaller area, making it feel warmer in the spring. In the fall, the sun is lower, and more of it is reflected, reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the ground and air.

3.  The ground is colder.  The air temperature might be 60, but how cold the ground is matters too.  If you're talking about a 60-degree day on May 7th vs. November 7th, the temperature of the ground is a lot colder in November.

4.  The wind.  Fall tends to be windier.  So it might be 60 degrees, but not when you factor in the wind chill.

5.  You're used to the previous season.  Our bodies take time to acclimate.  So, 60 degrees can feel balmy if it was 30 degrees a few weeks ago.  But it can feel pretty chilly if you're coming off a recent warm spell.

Reader's Digest also mentions that other factors such as your altitude, if you are near a body of water, and even your age come into play how warm or chilly a temperature feels. Science, am I right? So if you have often thought that 60 degrees feels warmer in the spring than in the fall, you're right. It's pretty fascinating, actually.

(H/T- Reader's Digest)