Toronto is heading into a messy but unusually warm stretch of early‑March weather, with light rain and mixed precipitation on Thursday, a risk of freezing drizzle later tonight, and a run of double‑digit temperatures that could last until mid‑next week before a sharp cooldown arrives.
Periods of light rain and mixing are expected across the GTA today as temperatures hover around the freezing mark. With moisture and marginal temperatures in play, some neighbourhoods may see wet snow or ice pellets, especially early in the day.
The current forecast shows a high near 2°C, with rain and snow continuing into tonight.
Forecasters are watching for freezing rain and drizzle Thursday night, a setup that could create slick roads and sidewalks. The risk peaks late Thursday into early Friday, with precipitation chances remaining elevated.
Friday will be mostly cloudy with occasional sunny breaks, but the unsettled pattern continues. More showers are expected late in the day as another system moves through. The high in Toronto reaches 5°C, with a low of 3°C.
Saturday: Warmest day in weeks, but windy and wet
Saturday stands out as the warmest day in the forecast, 680 NewsRadio weather specialist Denise Andreacchi says, and potentially one of the warmest days Toronto has seen in months. Temperatures are expected to climb to 16°C, well into the double digits and far above seasonal norms.
But the warmth comes with a tradeoff: scattered showers and strong southwest winds of 20–40 km/h will make for a blustery, unsettled day.
The weekend ends on a calmer note. Sunday brings a mix of sun and cloud with a high near 11°C, offering a brief reprieve before another round of spring‑like systems arrives next week.
Despite the spring preview, Andreacchi says the warmth won’t last. Forecasters expect a significant temperature drop after March 11, which is currently projected to be the last double‑digit day before colder air sweeps back in.
A person is walking in the rain with their feet in the water. Photo: Getty Images.
How common is early‑March rain in Toronto?
Southern Ontario will see numerous weather systems over the next week, each bringing its own round of rain or mixed precipitation. Thursday’s showers, Saturday’s scattered rain, and next week’s mid‑week system all contribute to what is shaping up to be one of the wettest stretches of March so far.
Rain in the first week of March is not unusual, though the amount varies widely year to year. Toronto’s long‑term climate records show that March typically brings a mix of rain and snow, with total monthly precipitation averaging around 65–80 mm depending on the time period.
Environment Canada’s historical climate portal shows that March precipitation includes both rain and snow, with daily and monthly records available dating back decades. According to this Toronto weather dashboard, 65.6 mm of total precipitation was recorded in March 2025, indicating that 10–15 mm in a single event — like what’s forecast for Thursday — fits comfortably within historical norms.
Toronto’s March temperature tables, from 2010–2024, confirm that double‑digit highs occur in most years, sometimes repeatedly, and occasionally spike into the mid‑teens. Andreacchi says this weekend’s forecasted highs in the 10–14°C range are well within the historical pattern — warm, but not unprecedented.
Click here to sign up for the CityNews Weather Guarantee and to check out Toronto’s extended forecast.
