NHS doctor explains why heat in the UK feels hotter than when you're abroad
The UK has been sizzling under a heatwave, with temperatures soaring close to 30C and remaining high even as night falls. It has left many Brits seeking refuge from the scorching weather, and, in true British fashion, there has been plenty of grumbling about the unbearable heat.
When summer arrives in the UK, many people will argue temperatures at home seem more intense than those experienced while holidaying abroad. Despite the mercury not climbing as high as it does in popular holiday destinations like Spain, Italy, or Greece, there's a significant factor that makes the UK's heat feel more oppressive: humidity.
NHS doctor Dr Karan Rajan, who has a massive following on TikTok, has explained why that is. Dr Rajan told his over five million TikTok followers: "Why does the heat in the UK feel even hotter than when you are abroad?
"Excluding the fact that the British love to complain about everything, weather included, there are a few rational explanations for this temperature perception glitch." He continued: "The first is relative humidity. This is the amount of moisture in the air compared to the maximum amount of moisture the air can hold at that temperature. In the UK, the relative humidity is higher than in countries with dry heat.
"This makes it harder for our bodies to cool down because sweat doesn't evaporate as well. So, you feel hot and sticky like a roast barbecue pig.
"This is why 35C in a dry climate can feel more comfortable than 25C in a place with high relative humidity," explained the NHS doctor and university lecturer. He further elaborated on how the UK's infrastructure contributes to this.
"The buildings are designed to retain heat because the weather is usually cold, soggy and silly," he said. "The same insulation that helps save energy in the winter makes buildings a greenhouse in the summer, especially without air conditioning, which most UK homes don't have.
"In contrast buildings in warmer climates are designed to stay cool. Thick walls, large windows, sometimes even with shutters and coloured coating on the buildings to deflect heat."
In the comment section, Andrey asked: "So you're saying it's not the heat that gets ya, it's the humidity? Lol." Another said: "As an Italian, I can 100% confirm hot weather in London just hits differently."
A third put: "I had a friend from Louisiana who came to work in the UK for a while, she couldn't bare the humidity here and the complete lack of air conditioning in most places. If someone from Louisiana can't handle British summers, that says it all really."
