Toronto’s 1991 to 2020 climate normals from Environment and Climate Change Canada show a coldest month in January and a warmest in July. At Toronto Pearson Airport the daily mean is −5.0°C in January and 22.1°C in July. About 807 mm of precipitation falls in a year, including roughly 115 cm of snow. Every month gets between about 50 and 81 mm of precipitation.
What the numbers are and where they come from
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) publishes Canadian Climate Normals, which are 30-year averages. The latest set covers 1991 to 2020. ECCC says these normals are based on stations with at least 15 years of data in that period. A normal is an average. It tells you what is typical for a month over three decades, not what the weather will be on a given day.
ECCC lists four Toronto stations in the 1991 to 2020 set: Toronto (City), Toronto (Island), Toronto Buttonville (Airport) and Toronto Pearson (Airport). This article mainly uses Toronto Pearson, because ECCC’s table for that station gives every row used here for every month. It also quotes the Toronto (City) station, at 43°40′ N, 79°24′ W and 112.5 metres above sea level, for downtown temperatures and for the number of days with precipitation. Pearson lies near the western edge of the city, so its figures run slightly colder than the downtown station.
Toronto Pearson normals, 1991 to 2020
The table gives ECCC’s monthly values for Toronto Pearson. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius. Precipitation is in millimetres and includes rain and melted snow. Snowfall is in centimetres.
| Month | Daily mean | Daily maximum | Daily minimum | Precipitation (mm) | Snowfall (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | −5.0 | −1.2 | −8.9 | 61.6 | 31.5 |
| February | −4.4 | −0.3 | −8.5 | 50.2 | 27.7 |
| March | 0.6 | 5.0 | −3.8 | 50.5 | 17.2 |
| April | 7.0 | 12.0 | 1.9 | 76.7 | 4.5 |
| May | 13.7 | 19.2 | 8.2 | 77.6 | 0.1 |
| June | 19.2 | 24.5 | 13.9 | 80.7 | 0.0 |
| July | 22.1 | 27.4 | 16.6 | 74.0 | 0.0 |
| August | 21.1 | 26.3 | 15.8 | 68.5 | 0.0 |
| September | 16.9 | 22.3 | 11.6 | 69.4 | 0.0 |
| October | 10.0 | 14.6 | 5.3 | 67.2 | 0.2 |
| November | 4.1 | 7.9 | 0.2 | 71.8 | 9.3 |
| December | −1.6 | 1.9 | −5.0 | 58.6 | 24.1 |
| Year | 8.6 | 13.3 | 3.9 | 806.8 | 114.5 |
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991 to 2020, Toronto Pearson (Airport).
Winter: December to February
January is the coldest month. The daily mean at Pearson is −5.0°C, with an average daily low of −8.9°C. February is nearly as cold, and in both months the average daily high stays at or just below freezing (−1.2°C and −0.3°C). The downtown Toronto (City) station is milder: its January mean is −3.5°C and its February mean is −2.7°C.
Snowfall peaks in these months. Pearson averages 31.5 cm in January, 27.7 cm in February and 24.1 cm in December. February and March are the driest months at Pearson, with 50.2 mm and 50.5 mm of precipitation. At the City station, January has the most days with measurable precipitation (16.3 days with at least 0.2 mm). The wider record of snowfall is covered in the article on Toronto snowfall data.
Spring and autumn: March to May, September to November
Spring is gradual. March means hover around freezing (0.6°C at Pearson, 1.7°C downtown), and Pearson still gets 17.2 cm of snow. April averages 7.0°C at Pearson and 7.8°C downtown, with a little snow (4.5 cm) and the first of the wetter months, at 76.7 mm. May has a daily mean of 13.7°C and a daily high of 19.2°C. Snow is nearly gone (0.1 cm).
Autumn runs the other way. September is still warm, with a daily mean of 16.9°C and a high of 22.3°C. October averages 10.0°C and brings a trace of snow (0.2 cm). By November the daily low at Pearson is only 0.2°C, snowfall is back at 9.3 cm. November precipitation is 71.8 mm. Toronto’s record of storms and wet years is covered in Toronto rainfall, storms and climate records, and the best-known single storm in the city’s history is described in Hurricane Hazel.
Summer: June to August
July is the warmest month, with a daily mean of 22.1°C at Pearson and 22.5°C at the City station. The average daily high at Pearson is 27.4°C in July and 26.3°C in August. Nights are mild, with an average low of 16.6°C in July.
June is the wettest month at Pearson with 80.7 mm of precipitation, and the downtown station also shows June as its highest month, at 81.6 mm. August has the lowest number of days with precipitation at the City station, 9.5 days, though it still averages 68.5 mm at Pearson. Summer is not dry, so rain gear still belongs in the bag. For outdoor plans, see the guides to the Toronto Islands and to barbecuing in Toronto parks.
Best time to visit
The best time depends on what you want, so the choices below use the ECCC numbers directly. They are a judgment based on those averages, not an official recommendation.
- Warm days outdoors: June to September, when the average daily high at Pearson ranges from 22.3°C to 27.4°C. July and August are warmest.
- Mild weather and fewer extremes: May and September, with daily highs of 19.2°C and 22.3°C.
- Winter activities: December to February, when daily highs are near freezing and snow is regular. The City says the reflecting pool at Nathan Phillips Square becomes a public skating rink from about November to March; see the article on Nathan Phillips for the square’s story.
Free attractions and walks suit every season; see free things to do in Toronto.
What to pack
Precipitation falls in every month. At the City station the number of days with at least 0.2 mm ranges from 9.5 in August to 16.3 in January, and the annual total is 150.2 days. A light waterproof jacket is useful in any season.
- December to March: an insulated coat, waterproof boots, hat, gloves and layers. The average January low at Pearson is −8.9°C.
- April, May and October: layers and a rain shell. Mean daily temperatures are between 7.0°C and 13.7°C, with highs of 12.0°C to 19.2°C.
- June to September: light clothing, a hat, sunscreen and one warmer layer for the evening.
- November: an autumn coat and waterproof shoes. Snow is possible, with 9.3 cm on average at Pearson.
Normals compared with real weather
ECCC’s earlier 1981 to 2010 normals for the Toronto (City) station give a January mean of −3.74°C, a July mean of 22.34°C and an annual mean of 9.39°C. The 1991 to 2020 values for the same station are −3.5°C, 22.5°C and 9.7°C, so the annual mean is about 0.3°C higher. Part of the difference is the new period, not a single year.
Individual months vary widely from these averages. A cold January or a wet June can look nothing like the normal. Before you travel, check the current forecast from ECCC, and treat this page as a guide to the usual pattern.
Frequently asked questions
What is the coldest month in Toronto?
January. The 1991 to 2020 daily mean is −5.0°C at Toronto Pearson and −3.5°C at the downtown Toronto (City) station, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
What is the warmest month in Toronto?
July, with a daily mean of 22.1°C at Pearson and 22.5°C at the City station. The average daily high at Pearson is 27.4°C.
How much snow does Toronto get?
The Pearson normal is 114.5 cm per year, falling mostly from December to March. Some snow can fall in November and April, and only traces in October and May.
When does it rain the most in Toronto?
Precipitation is spread through the year. At Pearson the highest monthly totals are in June (80.7 mm), May (77.6 mm) and April (76.7 mm). The annual total is 806.8 mm.
Are these figures forecasts?
No. They are 30-year averages for 1991 to 2020. Actual weather in any month can be warmer, colder, wetter or drier. Check a current forecast before you travel.
Sources
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991-2020, Toronto Pearson (Airport), Climate ID 6158731 (accessed October 2026)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991-2020, Toronto (City), Climate IDs 6158350 and 6158355 (accessed October 2026)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991-2020, introduction page and calculation notes (accessed October 2026)
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Climate Normals 1981-2010, mean daily temperature for Toronto, Climate ID 6158350 (open data collection, accessed October 2026)
- City of Toronto, Nathan Phillips Square, “What’s there at Nathan Phillips Square” (accessed October 2026)
Related reading
- Toronto snowfall data
- Toronto rainfall, storms and climate records
- Hurricane Hazel, 1954
- Free things to do in Toronto
- The Toronto Islands
- Lake Ontario and Toronto’s rivers
Last verified: November 2026
Cite this page
APA: History of Toronto. (2026, November 1). Weather in Toronto by Month: Temperature, Rain and Snow Normals. https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/weather-in-toronto-by-month
MLA: “Weather in Toronto by Month: Temperature, Rain and Snow Normals.” History of Toronto, 1 Nov 2026, https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/weather-in-toronto-by-month. Accessed .
Chicago: History of Toronto. “Weather in Toronto by Month: Temperature, Rain and Snow Normals.” Last modified November 1, 2026. https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/weather-in-toronto-by-month.
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