Toronto broke an 86-year weather record

Toronto broke an 86-year weather record on Friday, and temperatures are expected to keep rising.

Unofficial Environment Canada data shows the current temperature at Toronto Pearson International Airport is 11.4 C, breaking the 1938 record of 10.6 C.

CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter said Friday's forecast is for the city to continue to warm to 13 degrees for at least a few hours into the weekend.

“We should peak around 13C between 3pm and 5pm, peak for two to three hours, then slowly climb to 10C between 8pm and 9pm,” Coulter said.

Speaking to CP24 on Friday morning, Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips said the city of Toronto's weather records — which have been kept since 1841 and measure temperatures in the city instead of the airport — were the 10th warmest day on record on Feb. 9. C. So Friday's temperature also broke a 183-year record.

A mix of relatively warm sun and clouds on Friday with isolated showers possible during the day.

Saturday will be cloudy with showers in the morning and afternoon and a high of 10 degrees, Coulter said. Temperatures will drop to 3C on Sunday, with isolated flurries possible early next week.

Friday's warm-up may just be a 'teaser': Phillips

For those looking forward to an early spring, Friday's forecast is not encouraging, but it may not change, Phillips said.

“Our forecast says we're going to see seasonal temperatures next month,” Phillips explained. “Maybe a return to below freezing during the day and more snow.”

Toronto will see an average of 40 centimeters of snow, or one-third of the city's total winter snowfall, after Feb. 9, Phillips said.

Toronto has had a relatively mild winter so far, with just 5.6 centimeters of the city's most snowfall this season.

“I think it's a bit of a teaser. “It's not a full (winter) effect, but it adds to the milder and lighter winter we've had so far,” Phillips added.