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Toronto in at 45 degrees, which means it has the same amount of sunlight as Serbia, Southern France, Northern Spain, Japan etc. Most of the populated developed regions above this line lack snow completely, which makes them darker and more depressing. This includes locations that are often considered happy places to live such as UK, Germany, Denmark, Austria and almost all of Russia.
To me it is nonsense. The snow adds 10 times the misery. The snow is the worst of the worse associated with winter. South France is depressing? The average high is 14 degrees in Nice in Jan.
To me it is nonsense. The snow adds 10 times the misery. The snow is the worst of the worse associated with winter. South France is depressing? The average high is 14 degrees in Nice in Jan.
I meant above the 40 degree line. I lived for years in Amsterdam and it is very dark and gloomy this time of year due to the lack of sun and snow. If you go a bit higher up, to Oslo for example, it's darker but the snow makes up for it. The street lights reflect of the white snow and it's bright even after sunset. In Europe there isn't a big city with a lot of sun and snow at the same time (except for some alpine villages). This is why I feel Toronto is perfect, but that's only because I like warm summers and light, short winters with a lot of snow.
I meant above the 40 degree line. I lived for years in Amsterdam and it is very dark and gloomy this time of year due to the lack of sun and snow. If you go a bit higher up, to Oslo for example, it's darker but the snow makes up for it. The street lights reflect of the white snow and it's bright even after sunset. In Europe there isn't a big city with a lot of sun and snow at the same time (except for some alpine villages). This is why I feel Toronto is perfect, but that's only because I like warm summers and light, short winters with a lot of snow.
You have some misunderstanding here.
I don't think in the city of Toronto, at least in central city, the snow does much to light things up. In most cases, the snow takes the form of a brownish slush, which is both disgusting and dangerous. Maybe in the suburbs the snow can stay white for months because people don't walk on it. I, like most residents in downtown walk most of the time, and the slush definitely doesn't make it easier.
Toronto doesn't have "short winters". I don't know where you get this idea. One of the biggest challenges I have here in terms of weather is the how long the winter is - it pretty covers the entire March and half of April. Is that short? By March 15, most of the world in the northern hemisphere is pretty much in full spring with grass and flowers but in Toronto you need to wait until late April or May.
Additionally, the snow costs taxpayers multimillion dollars to dispose of. In 2014, the city budgeted $80 million for snow removal and that was not enough. Imagine what $80 million can do to improve our public realm elsewhere.
I honestly don't see any benefit from the snow. It may look nice and romantic for people who are always in their cars. Not for me.
I am dreaming of a GREEN GREEN Christmas!!!! Just like I wish they all would be!
Keep it up mother nature... you are making this December ROCK! I can dress up for fun and not survival! I do not have to pray each time I take a step so I don't land flat on my butt or face due to black ice and other potential sources of wipe outs!
I am dreaming of a GREEN GREEN Christmas!!!! Just like I wish they all would be!
Keep it up mother nature... you are making this December ROCK! I can dress up for fun and not survival! I do not have to pray each step I take might land me flat on my butt or face due to black ice and other potential sources of wipe outs!
I have been wearing a light jacket to work for weeks. It is middle of December and I felt like I am back to Los Angeles, ahahaha. I don't know why many people pretend the weather doesn't affect them. Truth is, everyone likes mild weather. At 10 degrees last night, I saw many people walking on the streets. Won't happen if it were -10.
Taking a long vacation in Jan/Feb, so whatever happens in those two months here won't concern me
Toronto doesn't have "short winters". I don't know where you get this idea. One of the biggest challenges I have here in terms of weather is the how long the winter is - it pretty covers the entire March and half of April. Is that short? By March 15, most of the world in the northern hemisphere is pretty much in full spring with grass and flowers but in Toronto you need to wait until late April or May.
Toronto winters are relatively short though. No snow until december and above zero tempertures starting in March is considered short to me. That's like 3-4 months of winter that's usually not even that cold or snowy. A long cold winter would be 6 months of snow with tempertures almost constantly below -5.
I have been wearing a light jacket to work for weeks. It is middle of December and I felt like I am back to Los Angeles, ahahaha. I don't know why many people pretend the weather doesn't affect them. Truth is, everyone likes mild weather. At 10 degrees last night, I saw many people walking on the streets. Won't happen if it were -10.
Taking a long vacation in Jan/Feb, so whatever happens in those two months here won't concern me
No offence, but I noticed people who live in Toronto are kind of wusses when it comes to the weather. How many times have you heard people from Ottawa and Montreal complain about winter while its colder up there than Toronto? Not too often. How many times have you heard Torontonians complain about winter? Too often. I noticed the same case in Alberta. You rarely here anyone complain about the winter up in Edmonton or Fort Mac. But in Calgary you hear a lot more complaints. I think people from colder climates are stronger and get used to the cold so they don't complain as much. Don't be so weak Toronto!
Toronto winters are relatively short though. No snow until december and above zero tempertures starting in March is considered short to me. That's like 3-4 months of winter that's usually not even that cold or snowy. A long cold winter would be 6 months of snow with tempertures almost constantly below -5.
that's very long. Outside Canada (and probably Mongolia/Russia), name other cities where sub zero winters are 4 months long.
A long cold winter of 6 months of snow with tempertures almost constantly below -5 doesn't exist in most part of the populated world.
No offence, but I noticed people who live in Toronto are kind of wusses when it comes to the weather. How many times have you heard people from Ottawa and Montreal complain about winter while its colder up there than Toronto? Not too often. How many times have you heard Torontonians complain about winter? Too often. I noticed the same case in Alberta. You rarely here anyone complain about the winter up in Edmonton or Fort Mac. But in Calgary you hear a lot more complaints. I think people from colder climates are stronger and get used to the cold so they don't complain as much. Don't be so weak Toronto!
Complain or not, anything below -5C with windchill is very cold and reduces one's quality of life. That's just a fact. The fact Montrealers don't complain about it doesn't mean they are not affected by it. They don't exactly sit outside having coffee in the middle of January, do they? And if asked, most Montrealers would still prefer the warmer months. Cities as cold as Ottawa and Montreal are few in the world, and I don't take them as my standard. Toronto still usually has horrible winter.
I agree complaining doesn't help. It is something we have to live with, or move. But you have to acknowledge the weather does affect one's mood. It is not simply a matter of not complaining and pretend it is just weather. It is like when you are hungry you can't pretend that doesn't affect you.
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