NORFOLK, Va. — If you’ve noticed more static shocks during the winter, you’re not imagining it. Cold weather truly makes them much more common. That quick zap when you touch a doorknob or car door is actually a small burst of built-up electricity, and winter creates the perfect setup for it.
The main reason comes down to dry air. During the colder months, humidity levels drop significantly both outside and inside our homes, especially once the heat is running. Normally, moist air helps electrical charges dissipate safely and gradually. But when the air is dry, there’s nothing to carry that charge away. Instead, it builds up on your body.
As you walk across carpets, slide across a car seat, sit on furniture, or even pull off a sweater, friction causes electrons to transfer from one surface to another. This process leaves you electrically charged. Because dry air doesn’t allow that energy to escape easily, the charge continues to grow…