What to wear in 40, 50, 60 and 70 degree weather
The number on the forecast is a starting point, not the answer. A band-by-band guide, the three things that shift it by ten degrees, and why the 8 AM and 3 PM temperatures matter more than the daily high.
Most "what to wear" questions are really "how will this feel", and the temperature alone does not answer that. A sunny, still 50°F afternoon is a T-shirt and a light jacket; a cloudy, windy 50°F morning is a coat. So here is the guide by band, and then the three adjustments that move you up or down a band. The temperatures are in Fahrenheit with Celsius alongside, and every band assumes you are walking outside for 20 minutes or more, not crossing a parking lot.
Below 40°F (below 4°C)
Winter coat, hat, gloves, closed shoes with socks that cover the ankle. Below about 30°F add a scarf or neck gaiter; below 20°F, thermal base layers and boots. Wind is the dominant factor here, because the wind chill on a 35°F day with a 20 mph breeze is 24°F.
40 to 49°F (4 to 9°C)
The band everyone gets wrong, usually by underdressing. A warm layer (sweater or fleece) plus a jacket that blocks wind. Long pants. Gloves and a hat if you will be out more than half an hour, especially in the morning. If it is sunny and still, the jacket can be light; if it is raining, 45°F is one of the most miserable temperatures there is, because you are wet and cold without any of the visual drama of snow.
50 to 59°F (10 to 15°C)
Long sleeves plus a light jacket, denim jacket or fleece. Jeans or long pants; shorts are for runners. This is the band where the sun matters most: 55°F and sunny at 2 PM is genuinely pleasant in a long-sleeve shirt, while 55°F under clouds at 8 AM wants the jacket zipped. Carry the layer rather than choosing between them.
60 to 69°F (16 to 20°C)
Comfortable. A T-shirt or long-sleeve shirt, with a light layer for morning and evening. Jeans, chinos or a skirt with bare legs if it is sunny. Most people are fine without a jacket in the afternoon and want one after sunset, because 65°F at 3 PM is often 52°F at 9 PM. Check the hourly forecast, not the daily high, before an evening out.
70 to 79°F (21 to 26°C)
Short sleeves, shorts or light pants, sandals or sneakers. Humidity takes over as the variable: 75°F with a dew point of 50 is perfect, 75°F with a dew point of 68 is sticky, and you will want breathable fabric and something to change into. Above 80°F the question becomes shade, water and sun protection rather than layers; our guide to heat domes and US heat waves covers the dangerous end.
The three adjustments
- Wind: subtract a band. Anything over 15 mph in cool weather, treat 50s like 40s and 40s like 30s. A windproof shell is worth more than a thick sweater.
- Sun: add half a band. Direct sun on a still day adds roughly 5 to 10°F to how it feels. Overcast takes it away again. This is why the same 58°F is a jacket day in Seattle and a T-shirt day in Denver.
- Rain: dress a band colder and waterproof. Wet skin and wet cotton lose heat fast. A rain shell over a fleece beats a heavy coat that soaks through.
Dress for the hour, not the day
The forecast high is the warmest hour of the afternoon. If you leave at 7:30 AM and come home at 6 PM, you will spend most of your outdoor time 10 to 20°F below it. That is the actual case for layers: a morning at 48°F and an afternoon at 68°F are two different bands on the same day. On our city pages, Chicago or Denver for instance, the hourly forecast from the NWS blend, the American GFS and the European model sits side by side, so you can see whether the 3 PM temperature is agreed on or argued about, and our accuracy scoreboard shows which model has been closest in your city. When the models split by five degrees, pack the layer. And for a trip, the monthly climate pages give the normal highs and lows so you can pack a week ahead.