View source for Geography of Toronto

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{{use Canadian English|date=October 2024}}
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[[File:Toronto by Sentinel-2.jpg|thumb|304x304px|Satellite image of Toronto in 2018]]
[[File:Scarborough Bluffs - Laslovarga (56).jpg|thumb|The [[Toronto waterfront]] along the [[Scarborough Bluffs]], an [[escarpment]] along [[Lake Ontario]].]]
The '''geography of [[Toronto]]''', [[Ontario]], covers an area of {{cvt|630|km2}} and is bounded by [[Lake Ontario]] to the south; [[Etobicoke Creek]], [[Eglinton Avenue]], and [[Ontario Highway 427|Highway 427]] to the west; [[Steeles Avenue]] to the north; and the [[Rouge River (Ontario)|Rouge River]] and the Scarborough–Pickering Townline to the east. In addition to Etobicoke Creek and the Rouge River, the city is trisected by two minor rivers and their tributaries, the [[Humber River (Ontario)|Humber River]] in the west end and the [[Don River (Ontario)|Don River]] east of downtown. Both flow southward to Lake Ontario at [[Humber Bay]] and [[Toronto Harbour]] respectively, which are part of the longer [[Toronto waterfront|Waterfront]], as well as Etobicoke Creek and the Rouge River.

The concentration and protection of [[Toronto ravine system|Toronto's many deep ravines]] allows for large tracts of densely forested valleys with recreational trails within the city. Approximately 26 to 28 percent of Toronto is covered with over ten million trees,<ref>{{cite web|title=Every Tree Counts A Portrait of Toronto's Urban Forest|url=http://www1.toronto.ca/City%20Of%20Toronto/Parks%20Forestry%20&%20Recreation/Urban%20Forestry/Files/pdf/E/every_tree_counts.pdf|publisher=City of Toronto|access-date=February 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226020757/https://www1.toronto.ca/City%20Of%20Toronto/Parks%20Forestry%20%26%20Recreation/Urban%20Forestry/Files/pdf/E/every_tree_counts.pdf|archive-date=December 26, 2015|pages=8|date=2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> a fairly high percentage within a large city in North America and there are ambitious proposals to double the coverage. Some parts of Toronto, such as [[High Park]], Swansea and the lower Humber River, are located in the northernmost parts of the [[Carolinian forest]] zone found in North America.

The shoreline of the former [[Glacial Lake Iroquois|Lake Iroquois]] is a major east−west geological feature, which was formed at the end of the [[Last Glacial Period]]. In the west end, [[Davenport Road]] follows the ancient shoreline with [[Baldwin Steps|the steps]] to [[Casa Loma]] rising above and downtown skyscrapers clearly visible to the southeast. It merges with the current Lake Ontario shoreline at the [[Scarborough Bluffs]] promontory.

The [[Toronto Islands]] are the only group of natural islands located on the western shores of Lake Ontario and were formed from the erosion of the Scarborough Bluffs. The Toronto Islands were originally a sand spit until a major storm separated them from the mainland during the late 1850s. Artificial islands include the islands that constitute [[Ontario Place]].

Toronto's immediate neighbours are [[Mississauga]] and [[Brampton]] within the [[Regional Municipality of Peel]], [[Vaughan]] and [[Markham, Ontario|Markham]] within the [[Regional Municipality of York]], and [[Pickering, Ontario|Pickering]] within the [[Regional Municipality of Durham]]. The [[Greater Toronto Area]] (GTA) includes the [[Regional municipality|regional municipalities]] of [[Regional Municipality of Halton|Halton]], Peel, York and Durham.

The GTA is part of a larger, natural [[ecosystem]] known as the [[Greater Toronto Bioregion]]. This ecosystem is bounded by Lake Ontario, the [[Niagara Escarpment]], and the [[Oak Ridges Moraine]], and includes many [[Drainage basin|watersheds]] that drain into Lake Ontario.

In March 2005, the [[Government of Ontario]] unveiled the boundaries of a [[Greenbelt (Golden Horseshoe)|greenbelt around the Greater Toronto Area]], a {{cvt|7200|km2}} area stretching from [[Niagara Falls, Ontario|Niagara Falls]] to [[Peterborough, Ontario|Peterborough]]. The [[green belt]] is designed to curb [[urban sprawl]] and to preserve valuable natural areas and [[Arable land|farmland]] surrounding the city. However, some types of development including detached single residential, quarries and commercial facilities continue to get approved, exerting pressure and population growth on the Greenbelt. Toronto is among the latest in a line of cities that have implemented [[Urban growth boundary|growth boundaries]] of some kind as a method of restricting urban growth, including [[Ottawa]]; [[Montreal]]; [[Lexington, Kentucky]]; [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] and [[Knoxville, Tennessee]]; [[Minneapolis]], [[Seattle]], [[Greater Vancouver]], [[Miami]], [[Portland, Oregon]]; [[Frankfurt]]; [[Melbourne]]; [[Seoul]]; and [[London]].

==Climate==
{{climate chart
| Toronto
| -6.8 | -0.3 | 62
| -6.0 | 0.6 | 55
| -1.8 | 5.0 | 54
|  3.8 | 11.7 | 68
| 10.0 | 18.8 | 82
| 15.2 | 24.2 | 71
| 18.1 | 27.0 | 64
| 17.7 | 26.1 | 81
| 13.8 | 22.0 | 85
|  7.7 | 14.6 | 64
|  2.3 |  8.1 | 84
| -2.7 |  2.6 | 61
|float=right
|source= Environment and Climate Change Canada}}

[[File:High_Park,_Toronto_DSC_0129_(17207727609).jpg|thumb|[[Cherry blossom]] (sakura) trees in [[High Park]] in 2015]]
Toronto's [[continental climate]] is moderated by Lake Ontario; its climate is among the mildest in Canada east of the [[Rocky Mountains]], given Toronto's southerly latitude within the country. Downtown Toronto sits in a pocket of the [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfa'') zone found at the southwestern end of Lake Ontario covering the southern part of the city — including downtown (but excluding the [[Toronto Islands]]), where the annual average temperature exceeds {{cvt|9|C}}. Some of Toronto, outside of [[Old Toronto|the pre-1998 city limits]], some suburban areas, and the Toronto Islands, fall within the ''Dfb'' climate regimen. This difference partly results from the [[urban heat island]] effect. Toronto is located in [[hardiness zone]] 7a, with decreasing hardiness further away from the downtown core (5b in the suburbs).<ref name="planthardiness">{{cite web | url = http://www.planthardiness.gc.ca/?m=22&lang=en&prov=Ontario&val=T |title = Plant Hardiness Data | publisher = Natural Resources Canada |date = January 14, 2015 |access-date = May 18, 2015}}</ref> There is a high degree of variability from year to year and sometimes over a period of days, particularly during the [[winter]] months. Though not native to North America, [[cherry blossom]] (sakura) trees bloom in Toronto during late April and early May.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/high-park-reopening-1.5564309|title=Toronto reopens High Park after temporary closure during cherry blossom bloom|work=[[CBLT-DT|CBC Toronto News]]|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|location=Toronto|date=May 11, 2020|access-date=June 3, 2020}}</ref>

Lake Ontario's water temperature varies due to [[upwelling]] of colder water or warmer pools of [[surface water]] creating very localized thermal contrast; the deeper waters of the lake, far from the shore, remain at a near-constant water temperature of {{cvt|4|C}}, the effect of which is either cooling or warming (in winter). This creates generally warmer nights through the colder season than would otherwise occur. When offshore winds blow in summer, they warm as they near the lakeshore in the evening; conversely, the cooling effect by the lake is most pronounced on [[Spring (season)|spring]] afternoons, which can affect Toronto even more than other cities on the Great Lakes due its exposure to onshore winds from the east to southeast, on some days, the temperatures can be as much as {{cvt|10|C-change}} cooler than areas far removed from Lake Ontario, an effect that wanes by summer when the dominant windflow becomes more southwesterly and the lake surface temperature warms.

[[File:Downtown from Ward's Island (11741567236).jpg|thumb|left|Toronto's [[Toronto Harbour|Inner Harbour]] frozen over in 2014. Contrasting deeper areas of the lake, situated further away from the [[Toronto waterfront|waterfront]], waters near the shoreline may occasionally [[freezing|freeze]] over.]]
Springs and [[autumn]]s are shorter seasons than summers and winters, and they feature varied weather with alternating periods of dry, sunny weather and rain. Many days in these seasons are sunny with pleasant rather than warm or cold temperatures. Nights are generally cool, but frosts are rare. Snow can fall in early spring or late fall but usually melt quickly after contact with the ground. At these changeable times of the year, temperature contrasts (up to {{cvt|30|C-change}} in extreme cases) can occur within short time frames due to rapidly changing air masses that sweep across the continent, often accompanied by high winds. Due to these airmass changes, temperatures of {{cvt|30|C}} or above have been recorded as early as April 16 and as late as October 8. Conversely, temperatures of {{cvt|-10|C}} or below at night have been recorded as early as November 6 and as late as April 18. Snowfall has been reported as early as October 1 and as late as May 28.  Toronto's weather is affected by the relative position of the polar [[jet stream]] and continental storm track, both of which pass over or near to the area with some frequency. This is determined by a number of complex global weather drivers, such as [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation]] (ENSO), [[North Atlantic oscillation]] (NOA) / [[Arctic oscillation]] (AO) and the [[polar vortex]].

There is no "dry season" as precipitation falls in all months with regularity (but mainly snow during the winter), but summer rains result mostly from thunderstorms, which make for higher average amounts as a general rule with occasional dry periods. February and March rank as the driest months on average. According to [[Environment and Climate Change Canada]], from 1991 to 2020, annual average [[precipitation]] is {{cvt|831|mm|2}}.<ref>https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1991_2020_e.html?searchType=stnName_1991&txtStationName_1991=toronto&searchMethod=contains&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=207000000&dispBack=1</ref>

===Winter and snowfall===
[[File:April 2018 ice storm in Toronto6.jpg|thumb|[[Milliken, Ontario|Milliken]], a residential [[Scarborough, Ontario|Scarborough]] neighbourhood, during an [[ice storm]], on April 15, 2018.]]
Despite being cold, extended snow-free periods occur in most winter seasons and precipitation can fall as rain with temperatures sometimes climbing above {{cvt|10|C}}. Average winter snowfall is {{cvt|121.5|cm|2}} at the weather station in [[Downtown Toronto]]<ref name = "ws-annex" >{{cite web
| url = http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?stnID=5051&lang=e&dCode=1&province=ONT&provBut=Search&month1=0&month2=12
| title = Toronto, Ontario
| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000
| publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada
| language = en, fr
| access-date = June 22, 2013
| archive-date = May 9, 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130509153037/http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?stnID=5051&lang=e&dCode=1&province=ONT&provBut=Search&month1=0&month2=12
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> and {{cvt|108.5|cm|2}} at [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]].<ref name="airport">{{cite web
| url =  http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=5097&lang=e&dCode=1&province=ONT&provBut=Go&month1=0&month2=12
| title = Toronto Lester B. Pearson INT'L A
| work = 1981–2010 Canadian Climate Normals
| date = October 31, 2011
| publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada
| access-date = June 3, 2014}}</ref>

The average January maximum / minimum is between {{cvt|−1|and|−7|C}} in the city.<ref name="ws-annex"/> There are usually a few colder periods where temperatures remain below {{cvt|−10|C}} and less frequently below {{cvt|−20|C}} at night (especially in the northern suburbs), with [[wind chill]]s making it feel like {{cvt|−30|C|0}}.<ref name="windchill">{{cite web |url=http://www.pnr-rpn.ec.gc.ca/air/wintersevere/windchill.en.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011127041727/http://www.pnr-rpn.ec.gc.ca/air/wintersevere/windchill.en.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2001 |title=Canada's Wind Chill Index |access-date=February 16, 2009 |date=January 4, 2005 |publisher=[[Environment and Climate Change Canada]] |quote=The wind chill is expressed in temperature-like units, but because it is not the actual air temperature, it is given without the degree sign. }}</ref>

Due to its position on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is not a direct target of heavy, wind−whipped [[lake-effect snow]] [[squall]]s that hit other [[Great Lakes|Great Lake]] cities on the south/east shorelines of the lakes, in areas where prevailing winds amplify lake effect. Despite this, there are usually two or more heavy snowfalls each winter which deposit at least {{cvt|15|cm|2}} accumulation, usually from powerful [[winter storm]]s known as "[[Panhandle hook#Colorado low|Colorado Lows]]" or [[panhandle hook]]s that pick up moisture en route to the Great Lakes. These storms can produce strong easterly driven winds that fetch additional [[moisture]] from Lake Ontario. They frequently come with a volatile mix of snow, [[ice pellets]], [[freezing rain]] and sometimes just ordinary rain, all of which can disrupt transportation, and in severe cases, interrupt power supply. Alberta clippers are less impactful, usually crossing the area quickly, bringing widespread but lighter snowfall. A [[December 2013 North American storm complex|sustained freezing rain event]] occurred on December 22, 2013, plunging 30 percent of the city into darkness, some until after [[Christmas]] Day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/22/toronto-power-down-outage-ice-storm-2013_n_4488773.html |title=Toronto Power Down as Ice Storm Hits GTA, Massive Outages Reported (PHOTOS, LIVE UPDATES) |date=December 22, 2013 |access-date=December 26, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082635/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/22/toronto-power-down-outage-ice-storm-2013_n_4488773.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref>

[[File:The City of Toronto snowplough.jpg|thumb|left|Toronto snowploughs clearing the highway of snow during a [[winter storm]].]]
On January 13, 1999, after [[North American blizzard of 1999|a series of snowstorms]], then-Toronto mayor [[Mel Lastman]] called in the [[Canadian Armed Forces]] to assist with snow removal and clearing streets. Within twelve days, the downtown Toronto weather station at the [[University of Toronto]] ([[Trinity College, Toronto|Trinity College]] near [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]]) recorded an average season's worth of {{cvt|118.4|cm|2}} of snow, much of it lake effect from Lake Ontario and a monthly record for January, but fell short of the snowiest month overall March 1870, with {{cvt|158.5|cm|2}}, of which {{cvt|89|cm|2}} fell over five days. February 2008 set a record a snowfall record for the month with {{cvt|76.8|cm|2}} falling at the airport, until broken by February 2025 with {{cvt|78.2|cm|2}}. The winter of 2007–08 brought accumulated seasonal snowfall totals of {{cvt|209.7|cm|2}} downtown and {{cvt|194.0|cm|1}} at the airport. The heavy winter snows, in combination with record rains during June–July of that year made 2008 the wettest year on the climate record with over {{cvt|1070|mm|2}} of total precipitation, until broken by 2024 with {{cvt|1146|mm|2}}. The largest single 24-hour and daily snowfall records occurred on December 11–12, 1944, when {{cvt|57.2|cm|1}} accumulated, with {{cvt|48.3|cm|1}} on December 11 alone. More recently on January 16–17, 2022, a [[January 14–17, 2022 North American winter storm|blizzard]] dropped up to {{cvt|55|cm|1}} (in sections of Scarborough) of accumulated snow in the city, crippling public transportation, with most of it falling on the morning of January 17. The official storm total at Pearson Airport was {{cvt|34.4|cm|1}}

On the opposite extreme, the winter of 2011–12 had the lowest seasonal snowfall total with only {{cvt|41.8|cm|2}}.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=51AA6ED5-1 | title = Canada Left Out of Winter's Cold | work = Canada's Top Ten Weather Stories for 2012 | publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada | access-date = February 18, 2015}}</ref> March 2012 was the warmest March on record.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2012/03/22/toronto_heat_wave_comes_close_to_hottest_march_day_on_record.html | title = Toronto heat wave comes close to hottest March day on record | date = March 22, 2012 | publisher = Toronto Star | access-date = February 18, 2015}}</ref> The least snowfall in a calendar year was 2006, with only {{cvt|32.4|cm|2}}. The strong El Niño influenced winter of 2009–10 had a low total of {{cvt|52.4|cm|2}}, March 2010 recorded no measurable snow, the first such occurrence in any March since 1946, and was followed by the warmest April ever on record.<ref>[http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=980B4916-73ED-40B2-91CD-12B0A270C7CE Ontario Weather Review] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611120549/http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=980B4916-73ED-40B2-91CD-12B0A270C7CE |date=June 11, 2011 }}</ref>

Winter weather conditions in Toronto can vary greatly from one year to another and is significantly affected by global weather patterns such as [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation]] (ENSO). [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation|El Niño]] winters on the weak to moderate side are generally colder or below average in terms of temperatures (such as the winters of 1976-77, 1977-78 and 2014-15), with stronger ones being much milder and soggier than normal, with more rainfall and less snowfall than average (such as the winters of 1997-98, 2009-10, 2015-16 and 2023-24), while [[La Niña]] winters tend have more precipitation, with more snowfall (the aforementioned 1999, 2008 and 2022 were La Niña winters), but are usually above average in terms of temperatures (such as the winters of 2011-12, 2016-17 and 2022-23). ENSO Neutral years are more unpredictable, such as 2013–14, which was the coldest, longest winter in recent memory.

===Summer===
[[File:Boating in the Toronto Islands.jpg|thumb|Boating around the [[Toronto Islands]]. Excursions to the islands are a popular summer activity in the city.]]
Maximum temperatures typically range from {{cvt|23|to|31|C}} with moderate to high humidity, proximity to Lake Ontario and the other lakes contribute to summer humidity but faraway sources like the [[Gulf of Mexico]] also factor in. The subtropical jet can move well north of the area in the midsummer influenced largely by the strength and position of the [[Azores High|Bermuda-Azores High]] and ridging over the North American continent, in some summers, it is a dominating influence.
Lake effect cooling varies greatly depending on location within the city and strength and direction of localized winds, variation in water temperature and currents due to recent weather, the most pronounced effect on the [[Toronto Islands]] and also on the immediate lakeshore, such as in [[The Beaches, Toronto|The Beaches]] and [[Scarborough Bluffs]], hence the term "cooler by the lake". This is less of a factor in the west and northwest parts of the city. Temperatures over {{cvt|32|C}} occur on average seven days each year (three consecutive days of such temperatures is defined as a [[heat wave]], which occur in most summers but maximums rarely exceed {{cvt|38|C|0}}, which last occurred on July 21, 2011). However, coupled with high humidity, the [[humidex]] value can rise well above {{cvt|40|C}} during these heat events, creating great discomfort. Nighttime temperatures generally hover close to {{cvt|20|C|0}} in the city but during hotter spells remain closer to {{cvt|25|C}}. Summer heat episodes are usually broken by cooler, drier periods that can be brief.

Thunderstorms are also a regular occurrence and can pop up quickly, especially west and north of the city in areas more prone to the "lake breeze front" or "lake breeze thunderstorms" phenomenon, in which intense, sharply defined squall lines develop quickly on summer afternoons inland, amplified by localized variation in wind patterns between the Great Lakes.<ref>[http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/elements/lakebreezewx.htm Lake Breeze Weather] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050322/http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/elements/lakebreezewx.htm |date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref> These storms sometimes, but not always move into the city causing localized flooding resulting from downpours with high rainfall amounts, intense lightning but less often severe winds knocking down trees and power lines.

===Severe weather and records===

In addition to snowstorms, ice storms, windstorms, heavy rainfall events associated with [[Tropical cyclone|tropical storms]] or very severe [[thunderstorm]]s, [[tornado]]es are rare but do occur, particularly in the northern and western suburbs. That area sits on the northeastern edge of "[[Tornado Alley#Tornadoes in Canada|tornado alley]]" where tornadoes occur with the most frequency per area in Canada. Downtown Toronto, on the other hand, generally avoids tornadic storm due to lake breeze inflows, which help break up the formation of tornadoes. Tornado warnings have been posted for the city on a few occasions in the early 21st century, however, [[List of tornadoes striking downtown areas of large cities|no touchdowns have been confirmed within city limits]] since a weak tornado hit [[Scarborough, Ontario|Scarborough]] in 1998. A pair of dangerous [[Fujita scale|F2]] tornadoes did touchdown in neighbouring [[Vaughan]] during [[2009 Southern Ontario tornado outbreak|a tornado outbreak]] on August 20, 2009. [[May 2022 Canadian derecho|A powerful derecho]] affected the city on May 21, 2022.

Toronto is susceptible to [[flash flood]]ing due to its various [[Toronto ravine system|ravines and valleys]] that can easily flood, as well as generally poor drainage due to its large urban area. Flooding can result from remnants of tropical storms, heavy rainfall combined with snow melt, or summertime thunderstorms stalled out along lake breeze boundaries. Low-lying areas, such as the lower reaches of the [[Don River (Ontario)|Don River]] valley, are the most likely to flood. This often leads to the shutdown of the [[Don Valley Parkway]] and [[GO Transit]]'s [[Richmond Hill line]]. A second mouth has been built for the Don River during the early 2020s to mitigate flooding in the Port Lands, creating the island of [[Ookwemin Minising]], which will have mixed-use high-density residential development.

{{further|Effects of Hurricane Hazel in Canada}}
[[File:Hurricane Hazel -- Weston Golf Club.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Weston Golf and Country Club]] was left submerged after the [[Humber River (Ontario)|Humber River]] overflowed its banks during [[Hurricane Hazel]] in 1954.|alt=A generally flat area is completely submerged by water; trees are scattered throughout.]]
The tropical storm remnant of [[Hurricane Hazel]] caused 81 deaths in October 1954 due to flooding that swept homes along river banks into Lake Ontario. A sudden [[downburst]] during a strong thunderstorm was believed to have played a contributing factor in the [[Air France Flight 358]] crash on August 2, 2005. Just a few weeks later on August 19, part of [[Southern Ontario tornado outbreak of 2005|a tornado outbreak in Southern Ontario]], record-breaking intense rainfall, the worst since Hazel, deluged north-central sections of the city within a couple of hours and destroying a section of [[Finch Avenue|Finch Avenue West]] over [[Black Creek (Toronto)|Black Creek]] in North York resulting in record insurance claims. Some rain gauges recorded {{cvt|175|mm|0}} of rain, over {{cvt|100|mm|0}} in just one hour. Another large rainstorm with intense, record rainfall amounts struck a wide swath of the city during the afternoon rush hour on July 8, 2013, flooding city streets, subway tunnels, basements and knocking out power for over two million residents, stranding commuters, some having to be rescued from a submerged train. A daily rainfall record of {{cvt|126.4|mm|2}} was set at Pearson Airport, most falling in an hour and a half. Flood insurance claims are likely to exceed the 2005 storm due to a wider area affected.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/infographics/toronto-flood-by-the-numbers
 |title=TO Flood by the Numbers
 |publisher=CTV News
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713091057/http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/infographics/toronto-flood-by-the-numbers
 |archive-date=July 13, 2013
}}
</ref> In the springs of 2017 and 2019, heavy rain combined with snow melt led to the water levels of [[Lake Ontario]] to rise to record levels, flooding parts of the [[Toronto Islands]] and closing it to the public.

The most severe heat wave in Toronto occurred in 1936, during [[1936 North American heat wave|that year's heat wave]], when downtown temperatures in Toronto exceeded {{cvt|40|C}} on three consecutive days ( July 8–10), with nighttime temperatures not falling below {{cvt|25|C}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climateData/dailydata_e.html?timeframe=2&Prov=ON&StationID=5051&dlyRange=1840-03-01%7C2011-04-17&Year=1936&Month=7&Day=01 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101090708/http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climateData/dailydata_e.html?timeframe=2&Prov=ON&StationID=5051&dlyRange=1840-03-01%7C2011-04-17&Year=1936&Month=7&Day=01 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 1, 2013 |title=Daily Data Report for July 1936 (station in University of Toronto) |publisher=National Climate Data and Information Archive |access-date=June 21, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/scorching-toronto-setting-temperature-records-1.673417 | title = Scorching Toronto setting temperature records | date = July 21, 2011 | publisher = CTV News Toronto | access-date = February 18, 2015}}</ref> The city was ill-equipped at that time to handle such a prolonged extreme [[heat wave]], and [[Hyperthermia|heat stroke]] claimed 225 lives in the city,<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia
 |title=Heat Wave
 |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia
 |last=Phillips
 |first=David
 |publisher=The Historica-Dominion Institute
 |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/heat-wave
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203225642/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/heat-wave
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date=February 3, 2013
|access-date=June 21, 2012
}}
</ref> not counting indirect deaths from causes such as drowning.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.heritagetoronto.org/news/story/2011/11/16/1936-heat-wave
 |title=The 1936 Heat Wave
 |last=Wencer
 |first=David
 |publisher=Heritage Toronto
 |date=November 16, 2011
|access-date=June 21, 2012
}}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The hottest month recorded, however, was July 1921, when the average maximum temperature downtown was {{cvt|31.2|C}}, with a monthly mean temperature of {{cvt|25.5|C}}, this was equalled in July 2020. At Toronto Pearson International Airport, the highest monthly maximum average was {{cvt|31.2|C}} in July 1955,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=1953-01-01%7C2013-06-13&dlyRange=1937-11-01%7C2013-06-13&mlyRange=1937-01-01%7C2013-06-01&StationID=5097&Prov=ON&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnName&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2021&selRowPerPage=25&Line=61&searchMethod=contains&txtStationName=toronto&timeframe=2&Month=7&Day=1&Year=1955 |title=Monthly Data Report for 1955 for Toronto Lester B. Pearson Int'L A |date=October 31, 2011 |publisher=Environment and Climate Change Canada |accessdate=February 28, 2021}}</ref> however the highest mean of {{cvt|25.0|C}} was set in July 2020, records there began in 1937.<ref name = Yun2021>{{cite web |first1=Tom |last1= Yun |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/07/30/hottest-july-in-84-years-environment-canada.html |title=It's official: This has been the hottest July in 84 years, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada |publisher=Toronto Star |date=July 30, 2020 |accessdate=February 28, 2021}}</ref> The highest [[humidex]] (combined feel of temperature and humidity) reached {{cvt|50.3|C}} at the airport during the [[1995 Chicago heat wave|heat wave of July 1995]], downtown it reached {{cvt|51.2|C}} on July 21, 2011, during the [[2011 North American heat wave]].

The coldest minimum temperature of {{cvt|−33|C}} was recorded on January 10, 1859. The coldest temperature recorded at the airport was {{cvt|−31.3|C}} on January 4, 1981, and the coldest windchill recorded was {{cvt|−44.7|C}} on the same day.<ref name="airport"/><ref name="windchill"/> The coldest month overall was {{cvt|−12.6|C}} at the airport in [[February 2015 North American cold wave|February 2015]] and at downtown in February 1875.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.thestar.com/news/starweather/2015/03/it-s-official-february-was-toronto-s-coldest-month-ever.html
| title = It's official: February was Toronto's coldest month ever | last = Colbert | first = Sam | publisher = Toronto Star | date = March 1, 2015 | access-date = March 4, 2015}}</ref> Other notable cold waves occurred in January 1994 and February 1934. Winter cold snaps pose a danger as they often come with high winds, leaving the city's homeless population very vulnerable to [[frostbite]] and [[hypothermia]].

===Upward temperature trend===
Based on public records provided by [[Environment and Climate Change Canada]], the average annual temperature has increased {{cvt|1.5|C-change}} at Pearson Airport over a period of 30 years. If compared with the thirty-year normals from 1971 to 2000, more of this increase occurred at night: the average minimum temperature has been {{cvt|1.9|C-change}} higher. Average precipitation during the same period was close to the average of the previous period, snowfall totals down only marginally with slightly higher rainfall. In order from the top: December, September, July and January have seen the highest average temperature increases. Part of this warming is likely attributed to [[Urban heat island|increased urban growth surrounding the airport]].

An older study conducted in the 1990s analyzed the heat island effect comparing data from selected regional stations, including both Downtown Toronto and Pearson Airport, enough for a large area of the pre-1998 city limits and parts of Etobicoke to have a different [[Köppen climate classification]] from the surrounding area.<ref>[http://www.cleanairpartnership.org/pdf/uhis_gough.pdf Impact of urbanization on the climate of Toronto, Ontario, Canada] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320191833/http://www.cleanairpartnership.org/pdf/uhis_gough.pdf |date=March 20, 2012 }}</ref>

===Statistics===<!-- Be sure to change the all-time February record high to 17.7°C (63.9°F) for Pearson Int'l.  -->

{{Toronto weatherbox}}
{{Pearson Airport weatherbox}}
{{Toronto Island Airport weatherbox}}
{{Weather box
|location = Toronto Pearson International Airport (1971–2000)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|width=100%
|Jan high C = −2.1
|Feb high C = −1.1
|Mar high C = 4.1
|Apr high C = 11.5
|May high C = 18.8
|Jun high C = 23.7
|Jul high C = 26.8
|Aug high C = 25.6
|Sep high C = 21.0
|Oct high C = 13.9
|Nov high C = 7.0
|Dec high C = 0.9
|year high C = 12.5

|Jan mean C = −6.3
|Feb mean C = −5.4
|Mar mean C = −0.4
|Apr mean C = 6.3
|May mean C = 12.9
|Jun mean C = 17.8
|Jul mean C = 20.8
|Aug mean C = 19.9
|Sep mean C = 15.3
|Oct mean C = 8.9
|Nov mean C = 3.2
|Dec mean C = −2.9
|year mean C = 7.5

|Jan low C = −10.5
|Feb low C = −9.7
|Mar low C = −5.0
|Apr low C = 1.0
|May low C = 6.9
|Jun low C = 11.9
|Jul low C = 14.8
|Aug low C = 14.0
|Sep low C = 9.6
|Oct low C = 3.9
|Nov low C = −0.7
|Dec low C = −6.7
|year low C = 2.5

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 52.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 42.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 57.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 68.4
|May precipitation mm = 72.5
|Jun precipitation mm = 74.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 74.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 79.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 77.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 64.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 69.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 60.9
|year precipitation mm = 792.7

|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 24.9
|Feb rain mm = 22.3
|Mar rain mm = 36.7
|Apr rain mm = 62.4
|May rain mm = 72.4
|Jun rain mm = 74.2
|Jul rain mm = 74.4
|Aug rain mm = 79.6
|Sep rain mm = 77.5
|Oct rain mm = 63.4
|Nov rain mm = 62.0
|Dec rain mm = 34.7
|year rain mm = 684.6

|snow colour = green
|Jan snow cm = 31.1
|Feb snow cm = 22.1
|Mar snow cm = 19.2
|Apr snow cm = 5.7
|May snow cm = 0.1
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 0.5
|Nov snow cm = 7.6
|Dec snow cm = 29.2
|year snow cm = 115.4

|Jan humidity = 81.7
|Feb humidity = 81.3
|Mar humidity = 81.2
|Apr humidity = 78.8
|May humidity = 80.0
|Jun humidity = 82.6
|Jul humidity = 84.5
|Aug humidity = 88.6
|Sep humidity = 89.5
|Oct humidity = 87.1
|Nov humidity = 84.7
|Dec humidity = 83.7
|year humidity = 83.6

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 14.9
|Feb precipitation days = 11.6
|Mar precipitation days = 13.1
|Apr precipitation days = 12.1
|May precipitation days = 11.9
|Jun precipitation days = 11.0
|Jul precipitation days = 10.1
|Aug precipitation days = 10.8
|Sep precipitation days = 10.7
|Oct precipitation days = 11.5
|Nov precipitation days = 13.2
|Dec precipitation days = 14.6
|year precipitation days = 145.5

|unit rain days = 0.2 mm
|Jan rain days = 5.1
|Feb rain days = 4.6
|Mar rain days = 8.0
|Apr rain days = 10.7
|May rain days = 11.9
|Jun rain days = 11.0
|Jul rain days = 10.1
|Aug rain days = 10.8
|Sep rain days = 10.7
|Oct rain days = 11.5
|Nov rain days = 10.6
|Dec rain days = 6.7
|year rain days = 111.8

|unit snow days = 0.2 cm
|Jan snow days = 12.6
|Feb snow days = 9.4
|Mar snow days = 7.1
|Apr snow days = 2.6
|May snow days = 0.07
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.40
|Nov snow days = 4.0
|Dec snow days = 10.3
|year snow days = 46.5

|Jan sun = 75
|Feb sun = 114
|Mar sun = 178
|Apr sun = 218
|May sun = 244
|Jun sun = 276
|Jul sun = 302
|Aug sun = 264
|Sep sun = 208
|Oct sun = 173
|Nov sun = 94
|Dec sun = 89
|year sun = 2235

|source 1 = Environment and Climate Change Canada<ref name="airport_old">{{cite web | url =  http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?stnID=5097&autofwd=1
| title = Canadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, Toronto Pearson International Airport | publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada}}</ref>
|source 2 = The Weather Network (sun only)<ref name="sunshine data">[http://www.theweathernetwork.com/statistics/suncloud/cl6158733 Climate data for Toronto Lester B. Pearson Int'l, ON, Canada], accessed March 25, 2012.</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
{{Weather box
|location = Toronto (The Annex), 1971–2000
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|width=100%
| Jan high C = −1.1
| Feb high C = −0.2
| Mar high C = 4.6
| Apr high C = 11.3
| May high C = 18.5
| Jun high C = 23.5
| Jul high C = 26.4
| Aug high C = 25.3
| Sep high C = 20.7
| Oct high C = 13.8
| Nov high C = 7.4
| Dec high C = 1.8
|year high C = 12.7
| Jan mean C = −4.2
| Feb mean C = −3.2
| Mar mean C = 1.3
| Apr mean C = 7.6
| May mean C = 14.2
| Jun mean C = 19.2
| Jul mean C = 22.2
| Aug mean C = 21.3
| Sep mean C = 17.0
| Oct mean C = 10.6
| Nov mean C = 4.8
| Dec mean C = -0.9
|year mean C = 9.2
| Jan low C = −7.3
| Feb low C = −6.3
| Mar low C = −2.0
| Apr low C = 3.8
| May low C = 9.9
| Jun low C = 14.8
| Jul low C = 17.9
| Aug low C = 17.3
| Sep low C = 13.2
| Oct low C = 7.3
| Nov low C = 2.2
| Dec low C = −3.7
|year low C = 5.6

| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 61.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 50.5
| Mar precipitation mm = 66.1
| Apr precipitation mm = 69.6
| May precipitation mm = 73.3
| Jun precipitation mm = 71.5
| Jul precipitation mm = 67.5
| Aug precipitation mm = 79.6
| Sep precipitation mm = 83.4
| Oct precipitation mm = 64.7
| Nov precipitation mm = 75.7
| Dec precipitation mm = 71.0
|year precipitation mm = 834.0

| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 29.2
| Feb rain mm = 26.2
| Mar rain mm = 42.0
| Apr rain mm = 63.2
| May rain mm = 73.3
| Jun rain mm = 71.5
| Jul rain mm = 67.5
| Aug rain mm = 79.6
| Sep rain mm = 83.4
| Oct rain mm = 64.7
| Nov rain mm = 67.3
| Dec rain mm = 41.9
|year rain mm = 709.8

| snow colour = green
| Jan snow cm = 38.2
| Feb snow cm = 26.6
| Mar snow cm = 22.0
| Apr snow cm = 6.0
| May snow cm = 0.0
| Jun snow cm = 0.0
| Jul snow cm = 0.0
| Aug snow cm = 0.0
| Sep snow cm = 0.0
| Oct snow cm = 0.1
| Nov snow cm = 8.1
| Dec snow cm = 32.2
|year snow cm = 133.1

| unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 15.3
| Feb precipitation days = 11.7
| Mar precipitation days = 12.7
| Apr precipitation days = 12.1
| May precipitation days = 12.2
| Jun precipitation days = 11.1
| Jul precipitation days = 10.3
| Aug precipitation days = 10.5
| Sep precipitation days = 10.6
| Oct precipitation days = 11.4
| Nov precipitation days = 12.7
| Dec precipitation days = 14.5
|year precipitation days = 145.1

| unit rain days = 0.2 mm
| Jan rain days = 5.2
| Feb rain days = 4.6
| Mar rain days = 8.0
| Apr rain days = 10.9
| May rain days = 12.2
| Jun rain days = 11.1
| Jul rain days = 10.3
| Aug rain days = 10.5
| Sep rain days = 10.6
| Oct rain days = 11.4
| Nov rain days = 10.6
| Dec rain days = 7.4
|year rain days = 112.8

| unit snow days = 0.2 cm
| Jan snow days = 12.0
| Feb snow days = 8.7
| Mar snow days = 6.4
| Apr snow days = 2.2
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.07
| Nov snow days = 3.2
| Dec snow days = 9.5
|year snow days = 42.0

| Jan sun = 88.3
| Feb sun = 110.3
| Mar sun = 156.3
| Apr sun = 185.4
| May sun = 229.1
| Jun sun = 256.2
| Jul sun = 276.2
| Aug sun = 241.3
| Sep sun = 188.0
| Oct sun = 148.4
| Nov sun = 83.6
| Dec sun = 74.7
|year sun = 2037.6

| Jan percentsun = 30.5
| Feb percentsun = 37.3
| Mar percentsun = 42.3
| Apr percentsun = 46.1
| May percentsun = 50.3
| Jun percentsun = 55.5
| Jul percentsun = 59.1
| Aug percentsun = 55.7
| Sep percentsun = 50.0
| Oct percentsun = 43.3
| Nov percentsun = 28.7
| Dec percentsun = 26.8
|year percentsun = 43.8

|source 1 = Environment and Climate Change Canada<ref name="ws-annex" />
|date=August 2010
}}
{{Weather box
|location = Toronto Island Airport (1971–2000)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|width=100%
|Jan high C = −1.3
|Feb high C = −0.7
|Mar high C = 3.7
|Apr high C = 10.1
|May high C = 16.6
|Jun high C = 21.6
|Jul high C = 25.1
|Aug high C = 24.3
|Sep high C = 19.9
|Oct high C = 13.0
|Nov high C = 7.3
|Dec high C = 1.8
|year high C = 11.8

|Jan mean C = −4.5
|Feb mean C = −3.9
|Mar mean C = 0.4
|Apr mean C = 6.4
|May mean C = 12.3
|Jun mean C = 17.3
|Jul mean C = 20.7
|Aug mean C = 20.4
|Sep mean C = 16.2
|Oct mean C = 9.7
|Nov mean C = 4.6
|Dec mean C = −1.3
|year mean C = 8.2

|Jan low C = −7.8
|Feb low C = −7.2
|Mar low C = −2.9
|Apr low C = 2.7
|May low C = 8.0
|Jun low C = 13.0
|Jul low C = 16.3
|Aug low C = 16.6
|Sep low C = 12.4
|Oct low C = 6.5
|Nov low C = 1.8
|Dec low C = −4.3
|year low C = 4.6

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 50.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 48.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 64.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 69.0
|May precipitation mm = 71.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 67.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 67.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 80.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 83.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 64.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 74.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 72.4
|year precipitation mm = 813.8

|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 23.3
|Feb rain mm = 24.1
|Mar rain mm = 45.5
|Apr rain mm = 63.2
|May rain mm = 71.6
|Jun rain mm = 67.5
|Jul rain mm = 67.2
|Aug rain mm = 80.1
|Sep rain mm = 83.4
|Oct rain mm = 64.6
|Nov rain mm = 69.3
|Dec rain mm = 45.1
|year rain mm = 705.0

|snow colour = green
|Jan snow cm = 29.5
|Feb snow cm = 26.0
|Mar snow cm = 18.4
|Apr snow cm = 6.0
|May snow cm = 0.0
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 0.0
|Nov snow cm = 5.4
|Dec snow cm = 27.6
|year snow cm = 112.8

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 14.3
|Feb precipitation days = 11.8
|Mar precipitation days = 12.5
|Apr precipitation days = 12.0
|May precipitation days = 11.5
|Jun precipitation days = 11.3
|Jul precipitation days = 9.8
|Aug precipitation days = 10.3
|Sep precipitation days = 10.8
|Oct precipitation days = 11.9
|Nov precipitation days = 12.7
|Dec precipitation days = 14.3
|year precipitation days = 143.1

|unit rain days = 0.2 mm
|Jan rain days = 4.8
|Feb rain days = 4.8
|Mar rain days = 8.4
|Apr rain days = 10.7
|May rain days = 11.5
|Jun rain days = 11.3
|Jul rain days = 9.8
|Aug rain days = 10.3
|Sep rain days = 10.8
|Oct rain days = 11.9
|Nov rain days = 11.1
|Dec rain days = 7.6
|year rain days = 113.0

|unit snow days = 0.2 cm
|Jan snow days = 11.1
|Feb snow days = 8.8
|Mar snow days = 5.8
|Apr snow days = 1.8
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.04
|Nov snow days = 2.5
|Dec snow days = 8.9
|year snow days = 39.0

|source 1 = Environment and Climate Change Canada<ref>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190726013108/http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=5085&dispBack=0
| archive-date = July 26, 2019
| url = http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=5085&dispBack=0
| title = Toronto Island A
| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000
| date = January 19, 2011
| publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada
| access-date = July 25, 2019}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
{{Weather box
|location = Lester B. Pearson International Airport (1961–1990)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|width=100%
|Jan high C = −2.5
|Feb high C = −1.6
|Mar high C = 3.7
|Apr high C = 11.5
|May high C = 18.4
|Jun high C = 23.6
|Jul high C = 26.8
|Aug high C = 25.5
|Sep high C = 20.9
|Oct high C = 14.1
|Nov high C = 7.2
|Dec high C = 0.4

|year high C = 12.3
|Jan mean C = −6.7
|Feb mean C = −6.1
|Mar mean C = −0.8
|Apr mean C = 6.0
|May mean C = 12.3
|Jun mean C = 17.4
|Jul mean C = 20.5
|Aug mean C = 19.5
|Sep mean C = 15.2
|Oct mean C = 8.9
|Nov mean C = 3.2
|Dec mean C = −3.5
|year mean C = 7.2

|Jan low C = −11.1
|Feb low C = −10.6
|Mar low C = −5.3
|Apr low C = 0.6
|May low C = 6.1
|Jun low C = 11.1
|Jul low C = 14.2
|Aug low C = 13.4
|Sep low C = 9.4
|Oct low C = 3.6
|Nov low C = −0.8
|Dec low C = −7.4
|year low C = 1.9

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 45.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 45.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 56.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 64.0
|May precipitation mm = 66.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 68.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 76.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 84.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 74.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 63.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 70.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 65.5
|year precipitation mm = 780.8

|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 18.5
|Feb rain mm = 20.8
|Mar rain mm = 35.1
|Apr rain mm = 56.0
|May rain mm = 65.8
|Jun rain mm = 68.9
|Jul rain mm = 76.6
|Aug rain mm = 84.2
|Sep rain mm = 74.2
|Oct rain mm = 62.0
|Nov rain mm = 64.3
|Dec rain mm = 38.3
|year rain mm = 664.7

|snow colour = green
|Jan snow cm = 32.3
|Feb snow cm = 25.9
|Mar snow cm = 19.9
|Apr snow cm = 7.3
|May snow cm = 0.1
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 1.1
|Nov snow cm = 6.4
|Dec snow cm = 31.1
|year snow cm = 124.2

| time day = 6:00
|Jan humidity = 82
|Feb humidity = 82
|Mar humidity = 83
|Apr humidity = 81
|May humidity = 81
|Jun humidity = 84
|Jul humidity = 86
|Aug humidity = 90
|Sep humidity = 90
|Oct humidity = 88
|Nov humidity = 86
|Dec humidity = 85
|year humidity =

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 14
|Feb precipitation days = 12
|Mar precipitation days = 13
|Apr precipitation days = 12
|May precipitation days = 11
|Jun precipitation days = 11
|Jul precipitation days = 10
|Aug precipitation days = 11
|Sep precipitation days = 10
|Oct precipitation days = 12
|Nov precipitation days = 13
|Dec precipitation days = 15
|year precipitation days = 141

|unit rain days = 0.2 mm
|Jan rain days = 4
|Feb rain days = 4
|Mar rain days = 8
|Apr rain days = 10
|May rain days = 11
|Jun rain days = 11
|Jul rain days = 10
|Aug rain days = 11
|Sep rain days = 10
|Oct rain days = 11
|Nov rain days = 11
|Dec rain days = 7
|year rain days = 107

|unit snow days = 0.2 cm
|Jan snow days = 12
|Feb snow days = 10
|Mar snow days = 7
|Apr snow days = 3
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 4
|Dec snow days = 11
|year snow days = 47

|source 1 = Environment and Climate Change Canada<ref>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190617155231/http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1961_1990_e.html?searchType=stnProx&txtRadius=25&optProxType=city&selCity=43%7C39%7C79%7C23%7CToronto&selPark=&txtCentralLatDeg=&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongDeg=&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1015&dispBack=0
| archive-date = June 17, 2019
| url =  http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1961_1990_e.html?searchType=stnProx&txtRadius=25&optProxType=city&selCity=43%7C39%7C79%7C23%7CToronto&selPark=&txtCentralLatDeg=&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongDeg=&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1015&dispBack=0
| title = Toronto Pearson International Airport
| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1961–1990
| date = October 31, 2011
| publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada
| access-date = June 17, 2019}}</ref>
}}
{{Weather box
|location = Toronto (The Annex) 1961–1990
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|width=100%
|Jan high C = −1.3
|Feb high C = −0.6
|Mar high C = 4.4
|Apr high C = 11.5
|May high C = 18.2
|Jun high C = 23.5
|Jul high C = 26.5
|Aug high C = 25.3
|Sep high C = 20.9
|Oct high C = 14.2
|Nov high C = 7.7
|Dec high C = 1.4
|year high C = 12.6

|Jan mean C = −4.5
|Feb mean C = −3.8
|Mar mean C = 1.0
|Apr mean C = 7.5
|May mean C = 13.8
|Jun mean C = 18.9
|Jul mean C = 22.1
|Aug mean C = 21.1
|Sep mean C = 16.9
|Oct mean C = 10.7
|Nov mean C = 4.9
|Dec mean C = −1.5
|year mean C = 8.9

|Jan low C = −7.9
|Feb low C = −7.2
|Mar low C = −2.4
|Apr low C = 3.5
|May low C = 9.3
|Jun low C = 14.3
|Jul low C = 17.6
|Aug low C = 16.9
|Sep low C = 13.0
|Oct low C = 7.2
|Nov low C = 2.1
|Dec low C = −4.4
|year low C = 5.2

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 55.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 52.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 65.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 65.4
|May precipitation mm = 68.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 67.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 71.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 82.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 76.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 63.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 76.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 76.5
|year precipitation mm = 818.9

|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 22.7
|Feb rain mm = 25.2
|Mar rain mm = 41.0
|Apr rain mm = 58.1
|May rain mm = 67.8
|Jun rain mm = 67.0
|Jul rain mm = 71.0
|Aug rain mm = 82.5
|Sep rain mm = 76.2
|Oct rain mm = 62.7
|Nov rain mm = 70.2
|Dec rain mm = 44.8
|year rain mm = 689.3

|snow colour = green
|Jan snow cm = 35.5
|Feb snow cm = 28.6
|Mar snow cm = 22.7
|Apr snow cm = 7.3
|May snow cm = 0.1
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 0.5
|Nov snow cm = 6.1
|Dec snow cm = 34.1
|year snow cm = 135.0

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 14
|Feb precipitation days = 12
|Mar precipitation days = 12
|Apr precipitation days = 12
|May precipitation days = 12
|Jun precipitation days = 11
|Jul precipitation days = 10
|Aug precipitation days = 10
|Sep precipitation days = 10
|Oct precipitation days = 11
|Nov precipitation days = 13
|Dec precipitation days = 15
|year precipitation days = 139
|unit rain days = 0.2 mm

|Jan rain days = 4
|Feb rain days = 4
|Mar rain days = 8
|Apr rain days = 11
|May rain days = 12
|Jun rain days = 11
|Jul rain days = 10
|Aug rain days = 10
|Sep rain days = 10
|Oct rain days = 11
|Nov rain days = 11
|Dec rain days = 7
|year rain days = 108
|unit snow days = 0.2 cm

|Jan snow days = 11
|Feb snow days = 9
|Mar snow days = 6
|Apr snow days = 2
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 3
|Dec snow days = 10
|year snow days = 40

| Jan sun = 95.5
| Feb sun = 112.6
| Mar sun = 150.5
| Apr sun = 187.7
| May sun = 229.7
| Jun sun = 254.9
| Jul sun = 278.0
| Aug sun = 244.0
| Sep sun = 184.7
| Oct sun = 145.7
| Nov sun = 82.3
| Dec sun = 72.6
|year sun = 2038.3

|source 1 = Environment and Climate Change Canada<ref>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190726013531/http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1961_1990_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1006&dispBack=0
| archive-date = July 26, 2019
| url =  http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1961_1990_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1006&dispBack=0
| title = Toronto, Ontario
| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1961–1990
| date = February 9, 2011
| publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada
| access-date = July 25, 2019}}</ref>
}}
{{Weather box
|location = Toronto Island Airport (1961–1990)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|width=100%
|Jan high C = −1.4
|Feb high C = −0.9
|Mar high C = 3.6
|Apr high C = 10.0
|May high C = 16.2
|Jun high C = 21.7
|Jul high C = 25.0
|Aug high C = 24.2
|Sep high C = 20.0
|Oct high C = 13.4
|Nov high C = 7.4
|Dec high C = 1.4
|year high C = 11.7

|Jan mean C = −4.6
|Feb mean C = −4.1
|Mar mean C = 0.5
|Apr mean C = 6.3
|May mean C = 12.0
|Jun mean C = 17.2
|Jul mean C = 20.6
|Aug mean C = 20.3
|Sep mean C = 16.3
|Oct mean C = 10.1
|Nov mean C = 4.7
|Dec mean C = −1.5
|year mean C = 8.1

|Jan low C = −7.9
|Feb low C = −7.4
|Mar low C = −2.8
|Apr low C = 2.5
|May low C = 7.7
|Jun low C = 12.8
|Jul low C = 16.2
|Aug low C = 16.4
|Sep low C = 12.6
|Oct low C = 6.8
|Nov low C = 1.9
|Dec low C = −4.5
|year low C = 4.5

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 51.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 49.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 59.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 62.8
|May precipitation mm = 66.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 68.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 68.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 79.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 75.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 60.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 71.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 73.2
|year precipitation mm = 786.8

|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 22.5
|Feb rain mm = 25.5
|Mar rain mm = 40.2
|Apr rain mm = 57.0
|May rain mm = 66.8
|Jun rain mm = 68.0
|Jul rain mm = 68.5
|Aug rain mm = 79.9
|Sep rain mm = 75.5
|Oct rain mm = 60.3
|Nov rain mm = 66.6
|Dec rain mm = 44.8
|year rain mm = 675.5

|snow colour = green
|Jan snow cm = 29.3
|Feb snow cm = 24.7
|Mar snow cm = 19.1
|Apr snow cm = 5.8
|May snow cm = 0.0
|Jun snow cm = 0.0
|Jul snow cm = 0.0
|Aug snow cm = 0.0
|Sep snow cm = 0.0
|Oct snow cm = 0.2
|Nov snow cm = 4.8
|Dec snow cm = 27.3
|year snow cm = 111.2

|unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 14
|Feb precipitation days = 11
|Mar precipitation days = 11
|Apr precipitation days = 11
|May precipitation days = 11
|Jun precipitation days = 11
|Jul precipitation days = 9
|Aug precipitation days = 10
|Sep precipitation days = 10
|Oct precipitation days = 11
|Nov precipitation days = 12
|Dec precipitation days = 14
|year precipitation days = 134

|unit rain days = 0.2 mm
|Jan rain days = 4
|Feb rain days = 4
|Mar rain days = 7
|Apr rain days = 10
|May rain days = 11
|Jun rain days = 11
|Jul rain days = 9
|Aug rain days = 10
|Sep rain days = 10
|Oct rain days = 11
|Nov rain days = 11
|Dec rain days = 7
|year rain days = 105

|unit snow days = 0.2 cm
|Jan snow days = 11
|Feb snow days = 8
|Mar snow days = 6
|Apr snow days = 2
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 2
|Dec snow days = 9
|year snow days = 38

|source 1 = Environment and Climate Change Canada<ref>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190726014209/http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1961_1990_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1011&dispBack=0
| archive-date = July 26, 2019
| url =  http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1961_1990_e.html?searchType=stnProv&lstProvince=ON&txtCentralLatMin=0&txtCentralLatSec=0&txtCentralLongMin=0&txtCentralLongSec=0&stnID=1011&dispBack=0
| title = Toronto Island A, Ontario
| work = Canadian Climate Normals 1961–1990
| date = February 9, 2011
| publisher = Environment and Climate Change Canada
| access-date = July 25, 2019}}</ref>
}}

==Topography==
[[File:Topographical Map of Toronto.png|300px|thumb|[[Topographic map]] of Toronto with grid north at the top]]
[[File:Rouge NUP Little Rouge Creek5.jpg|thumb|The [[Rouge River (Ontario)|Rouge River]] and its valley at [[Rouge National Urban Park]] in 2014. The Rouge Valley is one of many hills and valleys in the area that was carved out during the [[Last Glacial Period]].]]
[[File:GrenadierPondSkaters2015.jpg|thumb|Grenadier Pond in [[High Park]] frozen over in January 2015]]
{{main|Toronto ravine system|Toronto waterway system}}

[[Toronto ravine system|Toronto has numerous hills and valleys]] that were carved out during the [[Last Glacial Period|last Ice Age]]. The ravines are largely undeveloped, primarily as the result of [[Hurricane Hazel]] in 1954 and subsequent laws prohibiting development on the floodplains.

A significant topographical feature is the old shoreline of the [[Glacial Lake Iroquois]], known as the Iroquois Plain. The plain consists mostly of sand deposits and eroded shale and gently slopes about {{cvt|3|-|4|km}} north from Lake Ontario. [[Davenport Road]] mostly runs along the bottom of the old shoreline between Dupont Street and Symington Avenue. The Iroquois Plain joins Lake Ontario at the [[Scarborough Bluffs]] where erosion and the currents of Lake Ontario have carried sand deposits into [[Toronto Harbour]] to form the Toronto Islands. Above the Iroquois Plain, the topography includes two features: the South Slope and the Peel Plain. The South Slope is the southern part of an interlobular moraine the [[Oak Ridges Moraine]]. The South Slope has a gentle slope as well and experiences relatively high runoff as water infiltration is relatively low. The Peel Plain is mostly clay and generally flatter than the South Slope. Water infiltration is also low.<ref>{{cite report |title=Rouge River State of the Watershed Report |url=http://www.trca.on.ca/dotAsset/37784.pdf |publisher=Toronto and Region Conservation Authority |page=2-6 |access-date=August 13, 2020}}</ref> Historically, the Peel Plain and South Slope were considered to be high-quality agricultural lands, unlike the Iroquois Plain, which is very sandy. These areas are now heavily urbanized.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wright |first=Robert M. |date=February 2000 |title=The Evolving Physical Condition of the Greater Toronto Area: Space, Form, Change |url=https://www.neptis.org/sites/default/files/the_portrait_of_a_region_physical_condition/robert_wright_report.pdf |location=Toronto |publisher=University of Toronto |page=7}}</ref>

Both [[Dufferin Street]] and Caledonia Road between Davenport Road and [[Eglinton Avenue]], in the [[York, Ontario|York district]], run across numerous steep hills and valleys and the neighbourhood in this area is named [[Fairbank, Toronto|Fairbank]]. Fairbank and [[Silverthorn, Toronto|Silverthorn]] to the west have often been compared with [[List of hills in San Francisco|the many hills that make up]] [[San Francisco]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/life/2014/09/26/a_walk_with_ward_12_candidate_lekan_olawoye.html|title=A walk with Ward 12 candidate Lekan Olawoye|first=Shawn|last=Micallef|date=September 26, 2014|newspaper=Toronto Star|access-date=June 14, 2018}}</ref> However, parts of the hills and valleys are slightly levelled for [[GO Transit]]'s [[Barrie line]] that runs through this area.

[[Vaughan Road]] runs parallel to the buried [[Castle Frank Brook]] to the northeast.

The [[Don River (Ontario)|Don River]] is categorized as an [[Misfit stream|underfit river]], given that the river in its current state is too small for its much wider and deeper valley. The same is true for the [[Humber River (Ontario)|Humber River]], the [[Rouge River (Ontario)|Rouge River]], and [[Toronto waterway system|the various smaller waterways of Toronto]].

Grenadier Pond at the western edge of [[High Park]] is the largest body of water fully within Toronto's city limits. During the winter, it becomes a natural skating rink. The ancient underground [[Laurentian River System]] has its mouth under High Park. Spring Road on the eastern side of High Park follows this underground river.
{{clear}}

==See also==
* [[Fauna of Toronto]]
* [[List of parks in Toronto]]
* [[Native trees in Toronto]]
* [[Toronto waterway system]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
<references />

{{Toronto|state=expanded}}
{{Portal bar|Geography|Canada|Ontario}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography Of Toronto}}
[[Category:Geography of Toronto| ]]