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

While summer is definitely still in full swing (and we hate to be the ones to burst your bubble), Ontario's winter forecast for 2026-27 has officially arrived, offering an early glimpse at what the province can expect this season. 

On Wednesday, the Old Farmer's Almanac released its annual winter forecast for Canada, warning that the upcoming chilly season will be full of "snow, sleet, and surprises." 

Across the country, the Almanac notes that the winter season will be characterized by "dramatic contrasts," from rainy and windy weather in the west to frequent snow and icy conditions around the Great Lakes. 

"Milder stretches may be interrupted by sudden outbreaks of Arctic air. Snowstorms may transition to sleet or rain before temperatures plunge again," the forecast reads. "And in areas where temperatures hover close to freezing, even a small shift in a storm's track could mean the difference between rain, heavy wet snow, or a dangerous coating of ice." 

One factor that'll inevitably determine how this winter will play out is the strengthening El Niño in the tropical Pacific. According to the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, there is currently more than a 90 per cent chance of a strong El Niño during fall and winter in the Northern Hemisphere this upcoming winter.

The Almanac says that this climate pattern can help "rearrange the jet stream and storm tracks, increasing the possibility of a winter characterized by regional contrasts rather than uniform cold."

Looking at Ontario specifically, we might be sitting near one of the "most active battlegrounds" throughout the winter. 

According to the Almanac, cold northwest winds may bring harsh bands of lake-effect snow, while bigger storm systems could bring snow, freezing rain, sleet, or rain. As a result, several major cities, including Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor, London, and Ottawa, could experience storms where temperatures hover near the 0 C mark. 

The forecast warns that snowbelt communities east and southeast of the Great Lakes should remain alert for localized heavy snowfall. 

While northern Ontario is expected to experience a more consistent winter, southern portions of the province could deal with more turbulent freeze-thaw cycles and mixed precipitation. 

Although winter is inevitably around the corner, we still have roughly 17 weeks of summer and fall to get through first, so make sure to enjoy the warm weather while it lasts.