Toronto, Ontario, experiences four distinct seasons, with cold winters, mild springs and autumns, and warm summers. Temperatures can vary considerably throughout the year, from below freezing during winter to the upper 20s Celsius during the summer.
The tables below show Toronto’s average high and low temperatures for each month in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. The article also looks at how often temperatures rise above 10°C, 20°C or 30°C, as well as the number of days when freezing or very cold conditions occur.
The first temperature table uses 10-year averages from 2010 to 2019. The second uses 30-year climate averages from 1981 to 2010. The remaining temperature information is based on the 1981–2010 climate period.
Toronto Average Temperatures, 2010–2019
During the 2010–2019 period, July was Toronto’s warmest month, with an average high of 82°F (28°C) and an average low of 65°F (18°C). January was the coldest, with an average high of 31°F (0°C) and a low of 19°F (-7°C).
| Month | Average High °F | Average Low °F | Average High °C | Average Low °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F | 19°F | 0°C | -7°C |
| February | 33°F | 21°F | 0°C | -6°C |
| March | 42°F | 28°F | 5°C | -2°C |
| April | 53°F | 38°F | 12°C | 3°C |
| May | 68°F | 51°F | 20°C | 11°C |
| June | 75°F | 59°F | 24°C | 15°C |
| July | 82°F | 65°F | 28°C | 18°C |
| August | 79°F | 64°F | 26°C | 18°C |
| September | 72°F | 57°F | 22°C | 14°C |
| October | 59°F | 46°F | 15°C | 8°C |
| November | 46°F | 35°F | 8°C | 2°C |
| December | 37°F | 27°F | 3°C | -3°C |
| Year | 57°F | 43°F | 14°C | 6°C |
Toronto Average Temperatures, 1981–2010
The longer-term 1981–2010 climate normals show a similar seasonal pattern. July remains the warmest month, averaging 80°F (27°C) during the day and 64°F (18°C) at night.
January is the coldest month, with an average high of 31°F (-1°C) and an average low of 20°F (-7°C).
| Month | Average High °F | Average Low °F | Average High °C | Average Low °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31°F | 20°F | -1°C | -7°C |
| February | 33°F | 22°F | 0°C | -6°C |
| March | 40°F | 29°F | 5°C | -2°C |
| April | 53°F | 39°F | 12°C | 4°C |
| May | 65°F | 50°F | 18°C | 10°C |
| June | 75°F | 59°F | 24°C | 15°C |
| July | 80°F | 64°F | 27°C | 18°C |
| August | 78°F | 63°F | 26°C | 17°C |
| September | 70°F | 56°F | 21°C | 13°C |
| October | 57°F | 45°F | 14°C | 7°C |
| November | 46°F | 36°F | 8°C | 2°C |
| December | 36°F | 26°F | 2°C | -3°C |
| Year | 55°F | 43°F | 13°C | 6°C |
Days of Hot Weather in Toronto
Toronto experiences a wide range of summer temperatures. Based on the 1981–2010 data, the city averages 211 days per year when temperatures reach at least 10°C (50°F).
Temperatures reach 20°C (68°F) on an average of 117 days each year. Days reaching 30°C (86°F) are less common, occurring about 12 days per year on average.
Temperatures of 30°C or higher are most common between June and September, although they can occasionally occur as early as April.
| Month | Days ≥10°C (50°F) | Days ≥20°C (68°F) | Days ≥30°C (86°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| February | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| March | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| April | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| May | 30 | 10 | 0 |
| June | 30 | 24 | 3 |
| July | 31 | 30 | 5 |
| August | 31 | 29 | 3 |
| September | 30 | 17 | 1 |
| October | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| November | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| December | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Year | 211 | 117 | 12 |
July has the greatest number of warm days, with temperatures reaching at least 20°C on about 30 days of the month. It also averages about five days reaching 30°C or higher.
Frost in Toronto
Freezing temperatures are common during Toronto’s winter. The city averages about 101 days per year when the minimum temperature falls to 0°C (32°F) or below.
January has the greatest number of freezing days, averaging 26. February follows with 22 days, while December averages 20.
The average last frost of spring occurs around April 13, while the first frost of autumn typically returns around November 3. This gives Toronto an average frost-free period of about 203 days.
| Month | Days With Minimum ≤0°C (32°F) |
|---|---|
| January | 26 |
| February | 22 |
| March | 18 |
| April | 4 |
| May | 0 |
| June | 0 |
| July | 0 |
| August | 0 |
| September | 0 |
| October | 1 |
| November | 8 |
| December | 20 |
| Year | 101 |
Freezing nights become much less common after April. From May through September, the climate normals show no average days with minimum temperatures at or below freezing.
How Often Does Toronto Get Very Cold?
Toronto can experience periods of severe winter cold, although temperatures below -10°C (14°F) are much less frequent than ordinary freezing conditions.
The city averages about 78 days per year when the minimum temperature falls below -2°C (28°F). Of these, around 22 days have minimum temperatures below -10°C (14°F).
The coldest conditions are concentrated in January and February, with another significant number of very cold nights occurring in December.
| Month | Days Below -2°C (28°F) | Days Below -10°C (14°F) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 23 | 9 |
| February | 19 | 7 |
| March | 14 | 2 |
| April | 2 | 0 |
| May | 0 | 0 |
| June | 0 | 0 |
| July | 0 | 0 |
| August | 0 | 0 |
| September | 0 | 0 |
| October | 0 | 0 |
| November | 4 | 0 |
| December | 16 | 4 |
| Year | 78 | 22 |
The source notes that Toronto’s coldest winter nights can fall into the minus-20s Celsius, but the city averages only about one such night per year. Temperatures reaching -30°C (-22°F) are not considered normal.
Toronto Weather Through the Seasons
Winter
Toronto’s winters are cold, with temperatures frequently falling below freezing. January and February are the coldest months, and snowfall and freezing temperatures are common during this period.
Spring
Spring brings a rapid increase in temperatures. April has an average high of around 53°F (12°C), rising to 65–68°F (18–20°C) in May depending on the climate period used.
Frost can still occur in early spring, with the average final spring frost occurring around April 13.
Summer
Summer is the warmest season in Toronto. July is typically the hottest month, with average highs around 80–82°F (27–28°C). Temperatures of 20°C or higher occur frequently from May through September, while 30°C days are concentrated mainly in June, July and August.
Autumn
Temperatures gradually decline through September, October and November. September remains relatively warm, with a 1981–2010 average high of 70°F (21°C), but October falls to about 57°F (14°C).
By November, average highs are around 46°F (8°C), and freezing nights become increasingly common.
Toronto Temperature Summary
Toronto’s climate varies dramatically between winter and summer:
- Warmest month: July
- July average high: 80°F (27°C) in the 1981–2010 normals
- Coldest month: January
- January average low: 20°F (-7°C) in the 1981–2010 normals
- Days reaching 20°C: About 117 per year
- Days reaching 30°C: About 12 per year
- Freezing days: About 101 per year
- Days below -2°C: About 78 per year
- Days below -10°C: About 22 per year
- Average frost-free period: About 203 days
Toronto therefore has a much wider seasonal temperature range than many coastal Canadian cities. Summers can be warm enough for frequent 20°C days and occasional 30°C heat, while winter regularly brings freezing temperatures and periods of much colder weather.
Data Source
The temperature information comes from Environment Canada, Meteorological Service of Canada, Canadian Climate Normals. The long-term climate figures are based on the 1981–2010 Climate Normals & Averages.
The first temperature table uses the more recent 2010–2019 averages, while the remaining temperature-frequency information is based on the 1981–2010 period.