Toronto records warmest winter on record with mild temperatures in last 3 months

Toronto has recorded its warmest winter on record with weather in the last three months that can best be described as "absolutely tropical," according to an Environment Canada senior climatologist.

David Phillips said December was nearly 5C warmer than normal in Toronto, January was nearly 3.5C warmer and February was 4.7C warmer. According to the weather station at Toronto's Pearson Airport, the months of December, January and February were the mildest since records were kept in 1938, he said.

"Certainly, every indication has been that this has been a very unusually warm winter. For me, I think it's been so persistently warm. I mean, my gosh, we've had maybe a one day or a couple of days where it may be felt and looked like winter. It was like winter was cancelled here in the Toronto area," he said.

"This one has been absolutely tropical, balmy right from the get go."

Phillips said a combination of the El Nino weather phenomenon and climate change are behind the warm temperatures in Toronto. He said residents should enjoy the weather but it is worrisome.

"We know the backdrop of all of this has been climate change. We know that we're just not doing the right thing, environmentally. Nature is telling us a message here and we're ignoring it. And I think that's very unfortunate," he said.

On Monday, Toronto broke a record for the warmest March 4 since 1974, according to the Pearson Airport weather station. There, the high temperature was 16.6C, with the previous record set at 13.3C. At the downtown Toronto weather station, the high temperature that day was also 16.6 C, with the previous record of 15C set in 1840.

The warm weather means golf courses are opening earlier than expected.

James Chan, spokesperson for Burlington Springs Golf & Country Club, said this is the earliest the golf course has ever opened.

"Most golf courses usually open at the end of March or early April so this is about three weeks ahead of schedule," he said.