How would you compare winter in Toronto to NYC (school, live in)
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I am hearing that it is much colder but my cousins have always said they feel its the same. My mom would talk to my uncle and some winters we in NY had it worse and other winters they did.
Anybody live in both places? Just want to know what I should be prepared for. I already dread the winter here on Long Island.
Toronto winters , for Canada, are relatively mild.
They are likely, on average, slightly colder than Long Island, but you can be sure that if you dread winter in LI, you're not going to like Toronto's winter any better.
NYC January avg is 40 F day and 24 F night. Toronto in January averages 27 F day and 14 F night.
NYC July avg is 85 F in the day and 69 F at night. Toronto July avg is 80 F in the day and 59 F at night.
NYC is in USDA zone 7a and Toronto is in USDA zone 5b.
That means NYC's avg. coldest low is 5 to 0 F (-14 to -17 C)
and Toronto's avg coldest low is -10 to -15 F (-23 to -26 C)
NYC has mountains to the north and the Atlantic to the south.
Toronto has a large lake to the south.
That means coldest spells are not nearly as cold and the mountains to the north block cool northern air out, making summer more predictably warm-to-hot and muggy, since it's easier for air to travel from the south or southwest.
Toronto being on the northern side of a large lake means that we get more influence from extreme northern winds, rather than warm southerly winds, since the lakes cool the southern air before it arrives.
Toronto is probably most similar to Milwaukee, but with more overcast.
Chicago and Detroit are closer to Toronto's climate than NYC is.
Omg winter in Canada...unpredictable..it can be sooo cold and it can be spring-like...lots of snow and then we have had green winters and in January the golf courses have been open..If you don't like winters not sure I understand why you would move north...
As cold as it gets in NYC they don't have an "under ground" city
I've spent time in both and it's been my experience that although Toronto's weather is mild by Canadian standards it's pretty harsh by most U.S. standards.
So to answer your question Toronto winters are harder (colder on a whole and loooooooonger) then winters on Long Island, NY. IMHO
New York City is "milder" than Toronto but it's not a huge difference ....
here are averages based on 1971-2000 climate normals
NEW YORK (Central Park)
M JA FE MR AP MA JU JL AU SE OC NO DE
HI 38 41 50 61 71 79 84 82 75 64 53 43
Lo 26 28 35 44 54 63 69 68 60 50 41 32
TORONTO (downtown)
M JA FE MR AP MA JU JL AU SE OC NO DE
HI 30 32 41 54 66 76 80 78 70 59 46 35
Lo 19 21 28 39 50 59 64 63 56 45 36 25
Both are humid in the summer but NYC is definitely more humid
Toronto's weather NYC gets the next day (not always as some of
those big east coast storms only hit NYC /Boston)
New York gets less snow but Toronto gets only half of what Buffalo and Rochester,NY normally receive
(yes, as several posters stated, a quick look on the Wiki pages for both cities -- check the "climate" sections -- will tell you the average temperatures for each city.)
And, the numbers do not seem to lie. I've lived in Toronto for a long time (and have visited NYC), and I hate the climate here. It is colder than NY.
As referred (indirectly?) to before, it's mainly about the continental climate that we have further inland. Without a large body of water (which is more resistant to thermal changes than 'land'), the winters are harsher, and the summers are hotter.
My advice: if weather is something that can affect you significantly, stay away. In fact, I am even considering moving to Connecticut (Hartford) or Massachusetts (Boston) just for the marginally less extreme (more even temperatures throughout the year) climate.
Of course, coastal California with its Mediterranean climate would be perfect (for me), but there are obviously other concerns (I am used to the 'east coast' life, plus family is here and so on).
P.S. This winter there have been some quite extreme days. In fact, even with multiple sweaters and several layers under my jeans, I still couldn't make it to a subway stop from my school (5 minute walk?) without swearing at the world under my breath and feeling as if I was going to become a human icicle. But, yes, it really depends on you as a person and your sensitivity to such things. Some people aren't affected by it (fat people? :P ... jk).
Last edited by local_02; 03-05-2009 at 11:44 PM..
Reason: added PS
Winters in Toronto is a lot colder than NYC, but from your description it seems you have pretty low tolerance. Even during those cold spell mornings (-20/-15C), I feel totally OK when wearing just a shirt and a light down jacket. My legs tend to feel cold, but if i put on a pair of light thermal pants inside, I don't feel that bad. Of course a pair of earmuff is absolutely essential on any winter day.
By the way I am only 135 pounds
Quote:
Originally Posted by local_02
P.S. This winter there have been some quite extreme days. In fact, even with multiple sweaters and several layers under my jeans, I still couldn't make it to a subway stop from my school (5 minute walk?) without swearing at the world under my breath and feeling as if I was going to become a human icicle. But, yes, it really depends on you as a person and your sensitivity to such things. Some people aren't affected by it (fat people? :P ... jk).
New York City is "milder" than Toronto but it's not a huge difference ....
here are averages based on 1971-2000 climate normals
NEW YORK (Central Park)
M JA FE MR AP MA JU JL AU SE OC NO DE
HI 38 41 50 61 71 79 84 82 75 64 53 43
Lo 26 28 35 44 54 63 69 68 60 50 41 32
TORONTO (downtown)
M JA FE MR AP MA JU JL AU SE OC NO DE
HI 27 29 38 52 65 74 80 77 69 57 45 32
Lo 12 12 22 32 43 52 57 56 48 38 30 18
Both are humid in the summer but NYC is definitely more humid
Toronto's weather NYC gets the next day (not always as some of
those big east coast storms only hit NYC /Boston)
New York gets less snow but Toronto gets only half of what Buffalo and Rochester,NY normally receive
Correction For Temperatures for Toronto Data From Weather.com
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Toronto is colder than New York
