cold weather toronto

Toronto issues first extreme cold weather alert of the season

Baby, it's cold outside. After a super long summer and a mild fall, the weather's finally turned in Toronto. And today, Dr. Barbara Yaffe, the city's acting medical officer of health, issued the first extreme cold weather alert of the season.

The city sends out these warnings when temperatures are forecasted to dip below -15 C or -20 C with the windchill and advises Torontonians to take certain precautions when venturing outside and to check in on vulnerable neighbours, friends and family.

According to Toronto Public Health, these alerts "activate local services that focus on getting and keeping vulnerable residents inside. These services include additional shelter beds, notification to community agencies to relax any service restrictions, availability of transit tokens in some drop-ins, and overnight street outreach."

Now that the cold has arrived, the snow is also set to follow. Welcome to winter, Toronto.

Lead photo by

Empty Quarter


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Canada is seeing one of the worst standard-of-living declines in 40 years

Tributes pour in after death of Toronto City Councillor Jaye Robinson

It's going to get way easier to pay transit fare in Toronto with your phone

TTC literally just gave CEO Rick Leary an award days after chaotic subway shutdown

An aggressively spreading invasive species is completely taking over a Toronto park

50 tourist attractions in downtown Toronto you need to visit at least once

Stunning new lookout point overlooking Toronto wetland opens this summer

Stunning new Toronto transit station will link several TTC and GO lines