A question was sent in during a few weeks ago via the email, from Helen of Whangarei and she was asking…

Why is it that when I get out of our pool, I feel bloody cold, even when it’s really hot outside?

Good question and you’re not alone on this one!

This is what can be called “evaporative cooling.” When water evaporates, it requires quite a bit of heat to do so which may be a surprise for some people.
That’s why when it rains , the air temperature usually gets drops. Raindrops that are falling, actually evaporate as they fall and they take heat out of the atmosphere.

When you get out of the water (whether it’s the sea, river, lake or pool), you’re damp and as the water on your skin starts to dry out, it takes heat to do so-just like the raindrops that fall from the heavens. But here, the heat comes from your skin. So you feel colder, no matter if it is hot outside. 

Let’s hope that’s not leaving you more confused and that it helps answer the question rather belatedly!