Originally Posted by
tjspiel
Sun is higher in the sky and the days are longer than in December or January. On a sunny day this time of year snow will melt even if the temp is only the 20s.
The sun makes a big difference. I can remember this deep wooded gulch I used to run by in college. Even in early May there would sometimes be snow left near the bottom because it almost never got any sun.
Right about that. Even in February in single digits at before 8 AM with sun low, I was able to feel a tinge of warmth when stopped at a light.
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
I was gratified at the above responses [about wind chill], because I’ve never gotten replies about neglecting wind chill, and I didn’t mean for it to sound like false bravado.
This morning I rode my 14 miles commute at 21ºF and realized another meteorologic factor I never consider…time of day and cloud cover. Usually I commute and arrive 7:30 AM at the latest, so I usually am in the dark. This morning I rode at 10:00 AM and the bright sun was at about 60º above the horizon and the radiant heat made me feel quite warm. Even on my early morning commute, I may catch some low sun rays, and they are noticeably warm.
It’s so rare to ride in Winter daylight that I don’t count on radiant heat, but whereas 21º would prompt me to wear a heavyweight winter jacket, today a fleece would have been sufficient. I did change from my heavyweight ski gloves into a thinner, knit pair while en route, and kept the face mask pulled down low most of the route.