Fall warmth makes spooky return ahead of Halloween in Ontario
Much of southern Ontario is looking at 20-degree weather ahead of Halloween
Southern Ontario will have to hand the keys over to winter eventually.
But warm-weather lovers can rejoice in the fact that such a flip won’t happen this week.
An above-seasonal pattern will dominate the eastern half of North America through the final week of October, sending temperatures toward the 20-degree mark for some in southern Ontario.
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Fall warmth peaks in southern Ontario Thursday
A low-pressure system is forecast to lift into northwestern Ontario through Thursday, bringing widespread heavy rainfall across the north, including Thunder Bay.
Meanwhile, southern Ontario is forecast to sit within the system's warm front. A change in wind direction will pull in warm southwesterly air, making for mild and pleasant conditions ahead of the rainy cold front.
Temperatures will peak on Thursday afternoon with highs reaching 20+°C from Windsor to Toronto, with readings in the mid-teens expected toward Ottawa.
Unseasonable warmth will extend into northern Ontario, as well, with a high of 11°C expected in both Timmins and Thunder Bay, but the rain will put a damper on any enjoyment of the day.
By the late evening, the cold front will reach southern Ontario and we may see some showers across the Greater Toronto Area, although it will be very minimal.
The milder temperatures are forecast to continue into the weekend, perfect for trick-or-treating on Saturday as the overnight low is forecast to stay around 10°C across the region.
Toronto shows no signs of freezing
Toronto still hasn't recorded any temperatures at or below freezing. On average, we expect to see the first 0°C reading of the season around Oct. 13, which is now well behind us.
With this mild pattern forecast to continue into the start of November, there are no signs of freezing in the near future.
It’s not too unusual to experience temperatures at or above 20°C this late in the season. We’re closing in on the average date of the last 20°C reading in Toronto, Ottawa, and Windsor. But conditions in the 20s can linger well into November.
A warm pattern in 2020 stands out, in particular, though Toronto did see accumulating snow just two weeks after that season’s final 20°C.
Stay with The Weather Network for more information and updates on your weather across Ontario.