What to wear by temperature
What to wear in 20 degree weather
20°F is about −7°C
20°F is properly cold, 12 degrees below freezing. Ice stays put all day and any wind cuts through ordinary layers. My call is a warm insulated coat with a sweater under it, a hat, insulated gloves and a scarf, plus boots with grip.
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The 20°F kit, as I see it
- Insulated winter coat
- Sweater or fleece underneath
- Hat, insulated gloves and a scarf
- Boots with grip and warm socks
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What 20°F feels like in the wind
- 10 mph wind: feels like 9°F
- 20 mph wind: feels like 4°F
What I think of 20 degree weather
20°F is the temperature where breathing becomes a visible activity.
Twenty degrees: the kind of cold that follows you inside and sits on the sofa.
At 20°F your phone battery and your patience drain at the same speed.
Where 20°F is a normal winter afternoon
- Fargo, North Dakota: 22°F
Where 20°F is a normal winter night
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin: 20°F
- Grand Junction, Colorado: 20°F
- South Bend, Indiana: 20°F
- Lansing, Michigan: 20°F
- Peoria, Illinois: 21°F
- Syracuse, New York: 19°F
- Grand Rapids, Michigan: 21°F
- Billings, Montana: 19°F
Questions
Is 20 degrees cold?
Yes. 20°F is about −7°C, and with a 10 mph wind it feels like about 9°F.
What is 20°F in Celsius?
20°F is about −7°C.
What to wear running in 20 degree weather?
Runners’ rule of thumb says a run feels about 15 to 20°F warmer than the reading, so 20°F running feels like a 35 to 40°F day: tights, a long-sleeve base layer and a jacket, gloves and a hat.
Weather by name
City figures: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020. Wind chill: the National Weather Service formula.