What to know
- Toronto Pearson recorded a temperature of 35.6 C on Tuesday afternoon, with the humidity making it feel like 45.
- The latest heat follows a cold and snowy winter that brought temperatures as low as -20.8 C and more than 160 centimetres of snow at Pearson.
- Five of the seven Torontonians surveyed said they would choose extreme heat over a freezing winter day.
- Residents recommended staying hydrated, finding shade, taking breaks and using neck fans, electrolytes or freezies to manage the heat.
Toronto is sweating through another stretch of extreme summer weather, but after one of the city’s coldest and snowiest winters in years, many Torontonians said they would still choose the heat.
On Tuesday at 2 p.m., Environment Canada recorded a temperature of 35.6 C at Toronto Pearson International Airport, with the humidity making it feel like 45 C. The agency forecast a high of 38 C and a humidex of 46 C as the latest heat event reached its peak.
The sweltering conditions follow another multi-day heat wave that stretched from the end of June into early July. On Canada Day, Pearson reached a record-breaking 36 C, surpassing the previous July 1 record of 35.6 C. The humidex peaked at 48 C at Pearson and 45 C in Downtown Toronto.
It is a sharp turnaround from the winter people in the city recently endured.
Pearson went 23 consecutive days without rising above freezing between Jan. 18 and Feb. 10. During that stretch, the temperature fell as low as -20.8 C, while the coldest daytime high was just -13.3 C.
The winter was also exceptionally snowy. Pearson recorded about 160.2 centimetres of snow between December and February, including 88.2 centimetres in January alone.
With both extremes still fresh in people’s minds, Now Toronto asked residents whether they would rather experience a day that feels like 45 C or one that drops to -20 C.
Toronto weighs in on extreme heat versus cold
For most, the answer was clear: bring on the heat.
Shannon G. said she enjoys hot weather, although there is a limit to how much she can handle.
“It’s always nice to experience heat because we have so many cold months,” she said. “But yeah, it’s a little tough sometimes.”
Still, given the choice between a beach day and a snow day, Shannon chose the beach.
“I’m more acclimated to the heat than the cold,” she said.
Teshema B. also preferred the heat, despite finding the conditions uncomfortable.
“Hot and sweaty,” she said. “It’s a bit much, but I don’t mind it. It’s okay.”
Teshema said she would rather spend the hottest part of the day in the shade or indoors before heading outside later.
“To be honest, I prefer hot days like this, but I prefer to spend them in the shade or inside. To come outside later on, when the weather’s not so intense, because the sun is really, really hot right now.”
When asked to choose between a day that feels like 45 C and a -20 C winter day, Teshema did not hesitate.
“45 degree any day, because I mean I’m an immigrant, so really and truly I’m meant to be in the sun,” she said. “So you know, winter I’ll take it, but summer – yes, please.”
Marco and Charbel were among the few residents who rejected the extreme heat and chose snow instead.
“It’s too hot outside,” they said, joking that walking too far in the conditions felt nearly impossible.
They argued that snow is “more fun” and comes with the possibility of staying home, while hot weather can make even ordinary outdoor plans uncomfortable. Their strategy for getting through the day involved water and electrolytes.
Alex R., who was working outside near the lakeshore, was also firmly on the side of summer.
He said a breeze coming off the water made the conditions more manageable and compared the heat to what he experienced at a recent Portugal march to Toronto Stadium during the FIFA World Cup.
“That was extremely humid and hot,” he explained. “So right now, it’s pretty hot, but we’re by the lakeshore, so there’s a pretty nice breeze going through. So it’s not too bad, and I love summer, so I can’t be complaining about this.”
Alex said he would choose extreme heat over a freezing winter day.
“I’ll take extreme heat any day over snow, cold, we had a horrible winter, and to be experiencing summer finally, we need to embrace it and make sure it lasts as long as possible,” he said.
As a landscaper and fitness coach, Alex encouraged people working outdoors to take precautions.
“Drink lots of water, stay hydrated, make sure you take your break, eat, get enough protein in your body. Make sure your lifestyle fits what you need to do to keep yourself healthy,” he suggested.
Sheena T. and Manizay M. were happy to see the sunshine after Toronto’s long winter.
“Fantastic! I love it,” Sheena said. “Only because we’re about to get what four or five months of winter, so let’s take it and enjoy it.”
Although she does not consider herself a major fan of the sun, she said this summer’s warmth felt especially welcome.
“Honestly, like I ain’t a big sun lover, I will tell you, but this time around has really felt long needed, and I do feel like I’m defrosting and coming alive again,” Manizay said.
Both chose the 45 C humidex over a -20 C day.
“Go 45 degrees. 45 degrees. The sun’s out, and we are alive again,” Manizay said.
Their recommendations for managing the heat included using a portable neck fan and keeping ice cold freezies nearby.
Despite the extreme temperatures, they encouraged Torontonians to make the most of the warm weather while it lasts.
“Get out there and enjoy the summer, Toronto. It’s not gonna last. Get outside, 100 per cent, get out there,” Manizay said.
