There can be circumstances when Florida's humidity does, in fact, make it feel colder than what the thermostat reads. It's a mixture of temperatures, the moisture in the air and the human body's efforts to keep its core temperature steady, experts say.

In Florida, a temperature of 70°F (21°C) often feels surprisingly chilly due to the state's characteristic high humidity. Humidity increases the air's thermal conductivity, meaning it pulls heat away from your body much faster than dry air would. While "dry heat" allows sweat to evaporate and cool you down in summer, "damp cold" in the winter allows the moisture in the air to settle on your skin and clothes, creating a constant evaporative cooling effect that "chills you to the bone." Additionally, residents and frequent visitors to Florida become acclimatized to tropical heat; when the temperature drops from a consistent 90°F to 70°F, the body perceives it as a drastic 20-degree swing. This is further exacerbated by the "wind chill" effect coming off the coast. While a tourist from a northern climate might find 70°F refreshing, for those living in the subtropics, the combination of dampness and a lack of direct solar radiation during "cold fronts" makes a light jacket or sweater absolutely necessary to maintain comfort.