I remember reading that on two equally warm days, the day where it's sunny will be perceived as being 1-2 C warmer compared to the overcast day, even though the temperatures are the same. I cannot remember where I read this it was over ten years ago
this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2025
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And when it’s sunny on the snow it’s about 4-5 C warmer.
The sun emits around 1.4KW of energy per square meter. At the Earth's surface. At ocean altitude. Sunlight is warm, because it's a shitload of energy.
Any effect experienced beyond directly feeling it does happen, too. I forgot the name of the phenomenon where seeing something reminds you of how it feels, but that happens because sunlight is warm. Very, very warm.
I want to say the phenomenon is something like synesthesia, but I think there's a more specific term for the general memory engram referencing effect? Maybe I'm overthinking it.
Light actually warms you. The colors you see are the ones being absorbed while the other ones are just absorbed and turned to heat. Especially with black clothing you will feel warmer.
Not an illusion, no. The sun does impart some warmth (or a lot of warmth in some cases), Even when it's bitter cold out, being in direct sunlight will be a bit warmer.
OP is asking about seeing light, not being directly hit by it. A psychological effect.
And I’m saying “probably not”. If you step out into direct sunlight, you feel warmer because you’re absorbing heat from said sunlight.
You don’t generally feel warmer because you’re in a well lit room. (Though you do feel warmer if the colors in that room are warmer reds and oranges compared to cooler colors like blues and greens.)
If there’s enough light on you to feel warmer, it’s likely because the lights are warming you up (like stage lighting for news anchors.) rather than an illusion or placebo or whatever you want to call it.
Acknowledged OP edit aside...
I can't say I've experienced that illusion myself. I do wonder if there's something to your question that has to do with Circadian Rhythm or waking up more when you see sunlight.
Definitely does to me. If I stay up all night, around 7 or 8 am I get super hot, like my body is pissed. Without fail, morning brings massive body heat increase without sleep.
Username checks out. That's interesting, I don't doubt these experiences happen. In fact I thought you and OP would be the more common experience.
Was talking to a friend about this a few years back and we never looked very far into it, but we thought maybe it was just nature saying "go to sleep!" And warming you up to calm the fuck down and rest.
When it's been a long cold night, getting colder by the hour, and finally you see the sky start to lighten and especially when that first real ray of sunlight tips over the horizon, it may not have actually begun to warm you but the hope does make you feel a little warmer. You know it's at least not going to continue getting colder, and in most cases it will actually be warming up for several hours ahead. Maybe that hope makes your heart beat a little faster, that would help warm you up too.