Ontario's temperature records were unseasonably warm in the province

TORONTO – Temperatures are on the rise across Ontario, with Toronto breaking daily records, and other cities are poised to follow suit.

The temperature at Toronto Pearson International Airport hit 11 degrees at 10:00 a.m. Friday, breaking the daily record of 10.6 degrees set for the same day in 1938.

This is the latest record in Canada, where forecasters have warned that a strong global El Nino climate pattern and the effects of human-induced climate change will lead to warmer winters.

According to Canadian meteorologist Peter Kimbell, temperatures in Toronto were about 5 degrees above average for December and 3.4 degrees above average last month.

Kimbell said London, Windsor and Ottawa were among the other cities to hit daily records as the unseasonably warm weather has far-reaching effects across the province.

An organization representing First Nations in northern Ontario declared a state of emergency this week over winter roads on which communities depend for supplies of firewood, food and construction materials.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 9, 2024.

Canadian Press