Toronto temperatures are going to swing by 17 degrees this week

Toronto is set to get a small break from the frigid temperatures we've seen so far this month, but don't think about stashing away your parkas and mittens just yet, because the relief will be extremely short-lived. 

It's been a cold and wet week here in Toronto, and while the precipitation won't be going anywhere, temperatures will climb to a more comfortable range just before the weekend. 

According to Environment Canada's seven-day forecast for Toronto, temperatures will be mild on Thursday, with a daytime high of 5 degrees C. By mid-afternoon on Friday, temperatures are expected to climb up to 10 degrees C, which is quite unseasonal for this time of year.

However, the short burst of warmer weather will fade by nighttime, when the low will be 0 C. On Saturday, a daytime high of 3 degrees C will be followed by an overnight chance of rain and snow, and by Sunday, temperatures will drop even more to -1 degree C during the day. 

By Sunday overnight, temperatures will drop once again to a frigid -7 degrees C, with a chance of flurries. The maximum and minimum temperatures for this week historically are -2 degrees C and -9 degrees C, respectively. 

If you're wondering how the rest of the winter season will play out, the department's latest seasonal outlook for the period between January and March 2026 notes that southern Ontario has a 40 to 50 per cent probability of experiencing above-normal temperatures. 

Additionally, the Old Farmer's Almanac predicts that the average temperature in southern Ontario in January will be -6.5 degrees C, which is 2 degrees C below average in the east and 1 degree C above in the west. 

Looking ahead to February, southern Ontario's average monthly temperature is expected to be around -2 degrees C, which is 3 degrees C above the historical average.