THE CLIMATE OF TOEONTO 



The coldest March was that of 1885, with a mean 

 temperature of 18, this following one of the coldest 

 winters on record. 



April is a month of much bright sunshine, which 

 averages 193 hours, and the rainfall is less than in 

 any other month of the year. Owing, however, to 

 the position of Toronto upon the shores of Lake 

 Ontario, winds off the lake, which in winter some- 

 what temper the climate, now retard the upward 

 trend of temperature, and vegetation makes rather 

 slow progress. Up to the 20th light falls of snow 

 may also occur, but this snow is quickly melted. 

 After the 20th there is usually a marked improve- 

 ment in the weather conditions, vegetation then mak- 

 ing more rapid strides, and the swallows and insects 

 become numerous. The date of seeding varies with 

 the drying of the ground and will often be quite 

 early in the month, but it is seldom general until the 

 20th. At this date, also, violets and a few other 

 wild flowers are found in the woods, and elm and 

 poplar are usually in bloom. 



The three warmest Aprils were those of 1844, 

 1878, and 1895 that of 1878 was exceptionally 

 warm, with a mean temperature of 49. 2, but 3.2 

 lower than the temperature of a normal May. Occa- 

 sionally very high thermometer readings are recorded 

 towards the end of this month, the highest record 

 being 89.9 on the 22nd, 1842. 



May. By the first of May the somewhat fre- 

 quent cool periods, which retard growth in plant life 

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