20°C (68°F) counts as a nice day in the Netherlands. For many people it's also the automatic threshold for shorts. But 20°C is no guarantee — there are 20°C days where you genuinely feel cold in shorts.
When is 20°C definitely good enough?
In sunny, calm conditions at 20°C, shorts are an easy choice. The sun adds warmth, the wind takes none away. The feels-like temperature sits around 24–26°C. That's comfortable summer warmth for everyone.
When does 20°C feel too cold?
Problems start with wind and cloud cover:
| Scenario | Air temperature | Feels-like temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Sunny, no wind | 20°C | ~25–26°C |
| Overcast, no wind | 20°C | ~19°C |
| Overcast, 20 km/h wind | 20°C | ~16°C |
| Overcast, 35 km/h wind | 20°C | ~13°C |
| Rain, 15 km/h wind | 20°C | ~15°C |
An overcast day at 20°C with moderate wind feels like 16°C. That's the zone where shorts start becoming debatable for most people.
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Rain at 20°C: the biggest problem
20°C with rain is perhaps the trickiest combination. Wet clothing cools your body quickly. At 20°C with rain and wind the feels-like drops to around 14–15°C. And wet legs in shorts feel noticeably colder than dry ones.
If there's a chance of rain, shorts at 20°C are a gamble.
20°C doesn't always feel the same season
In May, 20°C is a celebration. In September, it's a sign that summer is winding down. Your body adjusts its temperature regulation to the average of the preceding weeks. As a result, 20°C in May feels warmer than in September — even if the thermometer is identical.
Conclusion
20°C with sun and little wind: shorts, no question. 20°C with cloud, wind or rain: check the feels-like first. Air temperature alone doesn't tell the full story.
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Read next
Can I wear shorts at 19 degrees? Sun and wind decide
At 19°C (66°F) sun and wind decide: it can feel like 25°C or 12°C. Sunny or calm means shorts; overcast and windy means trousers.
Can I wear shorts at 21 degrees? Almost always
Yes: at 21°C (70°F) shorts are fine for almost everyone. The one exception is overcast and windy at once, when it feels like 14°C.
Can I wear shorts at 18 degrees? Yes, if it's sunny
18°C (64°F) is shorts weather when the sun is out: it feels like 23°C. Overcast and windy it feels like 14°C and trousers are the better call.
Is 22 degrees hot? Warm, and shorts weather
22°C is 72°F: warm, not hot. It's comfortable shorts weather for nearly everyone. Only strong wind with cloud or rain makes it feel cool.
Why 20 degrees is not always shorts weather
20°C sounds like it should be comfortable. And often it is. But add enough wind or cloud cover and it stops feeling that way fairly quickly.