Toronto winter record

Extreme Toronto cold spell breaks 57 year old record

Polar vortex, schmolar vortex. The winter we're currently living through just saw temperatures dip to -22 C on Dec. 28 for the first time in recorded history.

The previous record was set all the way back in 1960, when a low of -18.9 was recorded on this day at Pearson Airport.

Toronto (obviously) remains under an extreme cold weather alert as a series of cold weather systems continues to roll through Southern Ontario.

A period of "very cold wind chills" is expected today, according to Environment Canada, with wind chill values of minus 30 or below recorded already in the city this morning.

extreme cold recordThe weather agency says that these wind chills will moderate a bit throughout the day, but not by much. With the wind chill, it could feel anywhere between -22 and -27 outside this evening.

You can thank a cross-polar flow for delivering air "straight out of Siberia into much of central Canada, including the Great Lakes" between Boxing Day and Jan. 1, according to the Weather Network.

The final week of 2017 will remain blisteringly cold, and the first week of 2018 is expected to be much the same. 

Thanks, Siberia.

Lead photo by

Kate Weinburg


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Doug Ford just got even tougher on Ontario bike lanes with new measures

Toronto's $27 billion Ontario Line just crossed its biggest construction milestone so far

Rare Canadian gold coin sells for over $1.5 million

Toronto ranked among the top 100 best cities in the world for 2025

A full list of all the items included in Canada's holiday GST cut

Liquid soap sold at stores across Canada recalled due to contamination

Canadians to get GST cut on groceries and new $250 rebate ahead of holidays

Snow is finally coming to southern Ontario and here's when it will hit