Easterlies are seldom as severe as they look on the charts. The strong wind keeps the temperature up. To be honest it can get a lot colder here under bog standard calm HP in winter when -8 or -10 overnight are not uncommon
Originally Posted by: Rob K
One difference, at least at my coastal location, is in the way the cold penetrates more in an easterly.
Get a standard frosty night under a high, you might get -3C (or -5C if you're really lucky). Still winds, warm house.
On the other hand, even with the heating running 24/7 at the moment the strong to near gale force NE'ly here has sapped the heat from the house, even though it's only been hovering around zero since late morning.
It's exceptionally rare here to get subzero temperatures for more than a short while with a breeze, let alone strong winds. The only times it happens are during an easterly. Things may be different inland, mind!
(Side note: the Beast in 2018 gave -14C here, cold enough that the old "chuck a mug of boiling water in the air" trick half-worked. It also gave the UK's coldest temperature that winter to Brogdale, which also recorded -14C. Those cold uppers, snow cover, clear skies and a few calm hours had an extraordinary effect).