Living in Toronto

Weather Expectations

Toronto, Canada is a northern city that experiences very warm summers and long, cold winters. But there are lots of winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding and skating that take advantage of the cold climate.

While our winters can be cold, Toronto's summer season is very pleasant and quite warm. The summers here in Toronto include activities such as swimming, going to the beach, cycling, hiking and tennis. You'll have fun in this city no matter what the season.

Canada uses the metric system for all measurements including weather, so temperature is recorded in Celsius.

Spring: March 20 - June 20

Spring is a rainy season in most of Toronto. Daytime temperatures rise throughout the season, but the nights are cool. The average temperature during the day is about 12°C in March, April and early May.

Summer: June 21 - September 21

Summer begins on June 21 but, to most Torontonians, July and August are the main months of summer. In summer, the weather is very warm in most parts of the province and daytime temperatures are usually above 20°C and often rise above 30°C. On TV and radio you will hear warnings about health problems caused by heat, sun and smog.

Fall (also called autumn): September 22 - December 20

Fall begins in September. The weather gets cool and the leaves on many trees change colour and fall to the ground. It can also be very rainy at this time of year. In these months, the average daytime temperatures are about 10°C - 12°C.

Winter: December 21 - March 19

In winter, it is cold and snows often. During the winter months (December, January and February), the temperature in most of Toronto is usually below 0°C, day and night. Temperatures can drop below -25°C. Snow can be on the ground from the middle of December until the middle of March.  Winters can be very cold and snowy. If you come from a warm country, you might be surprised by how cold it can get. Winter is a time for fun in the snow, but it is important to learn about the dangers of the cold and how to stay warm.

Here are some of the winter clothes you will need:

  • Thick, windproof coat
  • Scarf – for around your neck or across your face
  • Gloves or mittens
  • Warm underwear
  • Winter hat that covers your ears
  • Warm boots that are lined and/or waterproof

You can find out about the weather in your area by listening to the radio, watching TV, reading the newspaper or visiting weather websites.