How fast does water evaporate in cold weather?

How Water Evaporates in Cold Weather

Many people assume that water only turns into vapor when it gets hot, but evaporation happens at almost any temperature, even on freezing winter days.

The main catch is speed. When the weather turns cold, water molecules have less thermal energy. Because they are moving slower, they escape into the air at a much lower rate compared to a warm, sunny afternoon. This is why puddles might take all day to disappear in January, whereas they dry up in minutes during July.

Humidity and wind also play a massive role alongside temperature. Even if the air is bone-chilling, a strong, dry wind can speed up the process by sweeping away the moisture right above the surface, making room for new water molecules to escape into the atmosphere.