Ontario's spring forecast for 2026 has officially arrived and here's what's in store

Ontario's spring forecast for 2026 has officially arrived, and if you were hoping for a quick transition to warmer temperatures and less precipitation, you may be in for a letdown. 

The Weather Network released its spring forecast for Ontario on Wednesday, noting that the transition to the season from winter will be "sluggish," with colder-than-normal temperatures and periods of snow possibly extending through to April. 

"La Niña and the polar vortex teamed up to deliver a fickle, but high-impact winter to most of Canada. However, if winter has you longing for consistent warm weather, spring will once again test your patience," the channel's report reads. 

Compared to your average winter-to-spring transition, The Weather Network predicts that this year's shift will involve more detours than normal, especially during March and April. 

Throughout Ontario, we can expect near or colder than normal temperatures, with short bursts of warmer conditions. According to the forecast, the period between late March and early April has the highest potential for consistently below-normal temperatures in the province. 

Source: The Weather Network.

While areas north of Toronto can expect below-normal temperatures, it looks like conditions in the GTA will be near-normal throughout spring, while near-normal or above-normal precipitation is expected across the province through at least April.

"No doubt this will include more snow and ice for much of the province, including Toronto, Ottawa, and Thunder Bay. This could have some impact on preparations for the start of the spring planting season," the report continues. 

Looking ahead, meteorologists say May is shaping up to be a wildcard, with some indications that a cooler pattern will dominate, and others that hint at the possibility of a pattern reversal, which could bring early summer-like temperatures to Ontario.

Another forecast released earlier this month suggests that Ontario's weather will be cooler than normal this spring, with above-normal precipitation in the north and below-normal precipitation in the south. 

According to The Old Farmer's Almanac Spring 2026 Weather Forecast, March will be a mild month weatherwise in southern Ontario, with periods of rain and some flurries. 

This forecast predicts mild temperatures from March 1 to 6, cold temperatures with showers from March 7 to 14,  sunny skies and mild temperatures from March 15 to 19, and periods of snow and warm temperatures from March 20 to 31. 

The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts that the monthly precipitation total in southern Ontario will be approximately 55 mm, which is 25 mm below average in the east, and 25 mm above average in the west.