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Toronto has seen a nearly 16-day reduction in the number of days with freezing temperatures, the largest change between data sets among Canada’s major cities.
Despite the vast majority of Canada experiencing a general trend of warming nights, portions of the Prairies such as Edmonton, Regina, and Brandon have actually seen an increase in the number of subfreezing nights per year.
Rising nighttime temperatures isn’t a trend confined to Canada.
An analysis by U.S.-based Climate Central found that 210 American cities have seen a decline in the number of freezing nights since 1970, while average wintertime temperatures have warmed by several degrees throughout the country.
Plants are feeling the changing climate, as well
Warming nights throughout the year have contributed to a change in growing areas across the country.
Natural Resources Canada recently updated the map of plant hardiness zones, which helps residents decide which types of plants to grow based on the region’s climate.
