Toronto

=== Climate ===
{{climate chart
| Toronto
|-6.7|-0.7|61.5
|-5.6|-0.4|55.4
|-1.9| 4.7|53.7
|4.1|11.5|68.0
|9.9|18.4|82.0
|14.9|23.8|70.9
|18.0|26.6|63.9
|17.4|25.5|81.1
|13.4|21.0|84.7
|7.4|14.0|64.4
|2.3|7.5|84.1
|-3.1|2.1|61.5
|float=left
|clear=none
|source = Environment Canada<ref name="TORONTO">{{cite web |title=Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010 Station Data |url=http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=5051&lang=e&dCode=0&province=ONT&provBut=Go&month1=0&month2=12 |website=Environment Canada |date = October 31, 2011|access-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403002422/http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_e.html?stnID=5051&lang=e&dCode=0&province=ONT&provBut=Go&month1=0&month2=12 |archive-date=April 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
The city of Toronto has a hot summer [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfa''),<ref name="Peel">{{cite journal |last1=Peel |first1=M. C. |last2=Finlayson |first2=B. L. |last3=McMahon |first3=T. A. |year=2007 |title=Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification |url=http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. |volume=11 |issue=5 |pages=1633–1644 |bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P |doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 |issn=1027-5606 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203170339/http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf |archive-date=February 3, 2012 |access-date=May 5, 2015 |doi-access=free}}</ref> though was on the threshold of a warm summer humid continental climate (''Dfb'') until the 20th century due to the [[urban heat island]] but still found in the [[Greater Toronto Area|metropolitan region]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Map of Köppen-Geiger climate classification – 1971–2000 normals |url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pdf/1976-2000.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215192309/http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pdf/1976-2000.pdf |archive-date=December 15, 2017 |access-date=June 10, 2019 |website=koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at |language=en}}</ref> with warm, humid summers and cold winters. According to the classification applied by [[Natural Resources Canada]], the city of Toronto is in plant hardiness zone 7a. Some suburbs and nearby towns have lower zone ratings.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service |title=Canada's Plant Hardiness Site |url=http://www.planthardiness.gc.ca/?m=22&lang=en&prov=Ontario&val=T |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305141609/http://www.planthardiness.gc.ca/?m=22&lang=en&prov=Ontario&val=T |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |access-date=June 7, 2016 |website=Planthardiness.gc.ca}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=Government of Canada, [[Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada]] |title=Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada |url=http://www.agr.gc.ca/atlas/agpv?webmap-en=78529700717d4cab81c13e9f9404ef10&webmap-fr=c1b454842d3748b0bb0807d7817d34c2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727145343/http://www.agr.gc.ca/atlas/agpv?webmap-en=78529700717d4cab81c13e9f9404ef10&webmap-fr=c1b454842d3748b0bb0807d7817d34c2 |archive-date=July 27, 2017 |access-date=July 11, 2017 |website=agr.gc.ca}}</ref>

The city experiences four distinct seasons, with considerable variance in length.<ref name="climatedriverv1">{{cite web |year=2011 |title=What are we studying and why? |url=http://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/environment_and_energy/key_priorities/files/pdf/tfwcds-chapter1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820183936/http://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/environment_and_energy/key_priorities/files/pdf/tfwcds-chapter1.pdf |archive-date=August 20, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2015 |work=Toronto's Future Weather and Climate Driver Study |publisher=City of Toronto }}</ref> As a result of the rapid passage of weather systems (such as high- and low-pressure systems), the weather is variable from day to day in all seasons.<ref name="climatedriverv1" /> Owing to urbanization and its proximity to water, Toronto has a fairly low [[Diurnal temperature variation|diurnal temperature range]]. The denser urbanscape makes for warmer nights year-round; the average nighttime temperature is about {{convert|3.0|C-change|2}} warmer in the city than in rural areas in all months.<ref name="climatedriverv3">{{cite web |year=2011 |title=Why is Weather in Toronto the way it is? |url=http://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/environment_and_energy/key_priorities/files/pdf/tfwcds-chapter3.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820183939/http://www1.toronto.ca/city_of_toronto/environment_and_energy/key_priorities/files/pdf/tfwcds-chapter3.pdf |archive-date=August 20, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2015 |work=Toronto's Future Weather and Climate Driver Study |publisher=City of Toronto }}</ref> However, it can be noticeably cooler on many spring and early summer afternoons under the influence of a lake breeze, since Lake Ontario is cool relative to the air during these seasons.<ref name="climatedriverv3" /> These lake breezes mostly occur in summer, bringing relief on hot days.<ref name="climatedriverv3" /> Other low-scale maritime effects on the climate include [[lake-effect snow]], fog, and delaying of spring- and fall-like conditions, known as [[seasonal lag]].<ref name="climatedriverv3" />

Winters are cold, with frequent snow.<ref name="climate">{{cite web |title=Weather Expectations |url=http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=0d14c76aa6b12310VgnVCM1000003dd60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=a48832d0b6d1e310VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909015931/http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=0d14c76aa6b12310VgnVCM1000003dd60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=a48832d0b6d1e310VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD |archive-date=September 9, 2015 |access-date=September 20, 2015 |publisher=City of Toronto }}</ref> During the winter months, temperatures are usually below {{convert|0|C|F|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="climate" /> Toronto winters sometimes feature cold snaps when maximum temperatures remain below {{convert|-10|C|F|0|abbr=on}}, often made to feel colder by [[wind chill]]. Occasionally, they can drop below {{convert|-25|C|F|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="climate" /> Snowstorms, sometimes mixed with ice and rain, can disrupt work and travel schedules while accumulating snow can fall anytime from November until mid-April. However, mild stretches also occur in most winters, melting accumulated snow. The summer months are characterized by very warm temperatures.<ref name="climate" /> Daytime temperatures are usually above {{convert|20|C|F|0|abbr=on}}, and often rise above {{convert|30|C|F|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="climate" /> However, they can occasionally surpass {{convert|35|C|F|0|abbr=on}} accompanied by high humidity. Spring and autumn are transitional seasons with generally mild or cool temperatures with alternating dry and wet periods.<ref name="climatedriverv3" /> Daytime temperatures average around {{convert|10|to|12|C|F|0|abbr=on}} during these seasons.<ref name="climate" />
[[File:NorthYorkIceStorm2.JPG|thumb|Winters in Toronto are typically cold with frequent snowfall.]]
Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, but summer is usually the wettest season, the bulk falling during thunderstorms. The average yearly precipitation is about {{convert|831|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}, with an average annual snowfall of about {{convert|1220|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="annex" /> Toronto experiences an average of 2,066 sunshine hours or 45 percent of daylight hours, varying between a low of 28 percent in December to 60 percent in July.<ref name="annex" />

Climate change has affected Toronto, and as a consequence, the Toronto City Council declared a climate emergency, setting a net-zero carbon emissions target by 2040 through the [[TransformTO]] climate action plan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chief |first=David Rider City Hall Bureau |date=September 26, 2019 |title=City of Toronto aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050 or earlier |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/city-hall/city-of-toronto-aiming-to-be-carbon-neutral-by-2050-or-earlier/article_9faeac39-90c6-59bf-a7b7-d7780b4db815.html |access-date=January 3, 2024 |website=Toronto Star |language=en |archive-date=January 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103182047/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/city-hall/city-of-toronto-aiming-to-be-carbon-neutral-by-2050-or-earlier/article_9faeac39-90c6-59bf-a7b7-d7780b4db815.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 

{{Toronto weatherbox}}