Unusual intensity marked Toronto's summer heatwave of this year
Toronto's summer of 2025 was unusually warm, with the city experiencing a total of 24 days above 30 degrees Celsius - 10 more than historical norms. This trend was not isolated to Toronto, as several other cities in Ontario, including Hamilton, Ottawa, Windsor, and Barrie, also endured unusually hot summers.
Environment Canada climatologist David Phillips stated that wherever one looked across southern Ontario, it was hot. Toronto, in particular, suffered through five days above 35 degrees Celsius, which used to be rare. The number of 'tropical nights' in Toronto during summer 2025 was double the average.
Climate models predict that the number of hot and superhot days Toronto will experience as the Earth warms due to human fossil fuel consumption is in line with what the city experienced this summer. This year was not the hottest summer on record, but it had extreme heat concentrated in a shorter time frame.
The human toll of extreme heat is enormous on human health. Hot nights can be especially dangerous because the body never gets a chance to cool off. A new analysis of heat deaths in European cities indicates that two-thirds of the estimated 24,400 heat deaths this summer were due to temperatures intensified by human-induced warming. An extra 16,500 heat deaths occurred this past summer in Europe compared to a summer that did not experience extra heating from human activities.
Doctors, lawyers, and advocacy groups for seniors have asked the province repeatedly to start collecting heat-related death information. Unfortunately, Ontario's coroner does not track heat-related deaths. Workplace injuries also spike on the hottest days of the year.
This information could help protect the most vulnerable from a rapidly growing threat. As summers become hotter and more extreme, it's crucial to understand the impact on public health and take steps to mitigate the risks. The rising temperatures are a stark reminder of the need for action on climate change.
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