Expert Info

Posted by
on 21 Jun 2011

When I think of Canada, I think of frostbite...though I'm hoping my tendency toward exaggeration in indeed a tendency when it comes to weather in Toronto. Moving there to pursue a Master's and allergic to cold. Can someone please offer me a glimmer of hope or at least give me fair warning when it comes to what clothes to pack.

Anonymous (not verified) on 21 Jun 2011 - 09:19
Rest assured, weather in Toronto is actually quite mild and enjoyable - at least for part of the year. While winter temps can definitely linger below freezing, summer averages sit at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 27 degrees Celsius). The hottest month is July, followed by June and August; and though the sun starts to set earlier in September, the days are still pleasant and the colours of the changing leaves provide their own version of warmth.

You'll definitely need to pack a warm jacket and warm shoes, and on top of that, raingear is essential. It rains pretty consistently throughout the year, so galoshes during winter and a lightweight waterproof jacket during summer are items that can make the difference between a miserable mood and good one.

Otherwise, take solace in the fact that most Canadian houses and indoor areas are well-insulated. Central heating is a norm, so once you come in out of the cold, you can pretty mush strip down to your birthday suit - depending on your location and how much you'd like to pay for monthly electricity.
Anonymous (not verified) on 25 Sep 2012 - 14:47
It's all relative. Toronto is one of the southernmost major cities of Canada. It does get fairly cold in winter (-10C to -15C), but this doesn't come close to the ice-box temps in the west or north for which Canada is reknown. In summer, the city is as hot as you will be able to tolerate, averaging around 25C and peaking up to 35C on the hottest days.