Cold weather in Toronto slowly easing up after frigid morning

A man rides his bicycle through the steam in the cold winter weather in Toronto, on Friday, February 3, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

The temperature in Toronto is starting to ease up after a frigid Sunday morning, but still remains well below the freezing mark.

Torontonians woke up to what felt like -27 after the mercury dropped to -18 C overnight.

The temperature is slowing rising and expected to reach a high of -7 C amid a mix of sun and cloud. This evening, there’s a 30 per cent chance of flurries and the low is expected to drop to -11 C.

Extreme cold weather warnings in effect for areas north and east of the city, including Barrie, Newmarket, Pickering, and Oshawa, have since lifted.

The City of Toronto has opened two additional warming centres in response to the cold temperatures, one at 58 Cecil St., south of Spadina Avenue and College Street, and one at 870 Queen St., east of Broadview Avenue.

Those so-called “surge sites” opened on Saturday to support people experiencing homelessness as the temperature dropped below -15 C. Five other warming centres remain open to walk-ins and can be found here.

Will it be a white Christmas?

While snowfall isn’t in the forecast for Christmas Day, there could be enough residual snow on the ground for a white Dec. 25 -- if it doesn’t melt first.

Flurries are in the forecast everyday leading up to Wednesday and periods of snow are expected on Monday night, according to Environment Canada. The temperature will hover around the freezing mark to start the week.

The Christmas Day forecast is calling for a high of 2 C amid cloudy conditions.