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Geography

Climate

"Kakabeka Falls" image courtesy of the Ministry of Natural Resources.Ontario's climate ranges from humid continental in the south, with chilly winters, warm summers and lots of humidity, to subarctic in the north. The large bodies of water in the north and south have a moderating effect on climate, making summer and winter temperatures less extreme, delaying autumn frosts, and reducing the differential between day and night temperatures. On average the coldest month of the year is January and the warmest is July. January temperatures around the Ottawa River in eastern Ontario average -13°C (9°F). From Niagara Falls to Windsor, the January average is about -4°C (25°F). The average temperatures in July range from 23°C (74°F) in southwestern Ontario, to 19°C (64°F) in eastern Ontario. The seasonal temperature differential is much greater in Northern Ontario. For example, at Kapuskasing the record low is -47°C (-53°F), while the record high is 38°C (101°F).

Ontario's weather is marked by considerable rain or snow throughout the year, caused by cold polar air from the north meeting warm moist air from the south. Annual precipitation in northern Ontario varies from 70 cm (28 in) in Moosonee, to 97 cm (38 in) in North Bay. In southwestern Ontario, precipitation averages about 95 cm (37 in) per year. The heaviest snowfalls occur in a belt lying inland to the east from Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, including Owen Sound where annual snowfall can exceed 339 cm (134 in).

 
 
Visiting Ontario

Did you know?

  • The largest rock formation in Canada is the Canadian Shield. The scars from the advance and retreat of glaciers are evident on the rocks of the Canadian Shield. The Canadian Shield covers about two-thirds of Ontario.

  • The Ontario-U.S. border is almost entirely defined by water. To the east of Thunder Bay, the border runs along the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway, and to the west it follows a series of lakes and rivers.

  • There are actually 1,864 islands in the Thousand Islands.

  • The Ishpatina Ridge is the highest point in Ontario at 693 metres. 

 
 
 
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Last Modified: November 24, 2006