Toronto recently experienced its most overcast January in more than a decade, marking the longest stretch of winter gloom in 11 years.
Following a December that saw 28 days shrouded in clouds and fog, January continued the trend with 26 days of similarly gloomy weather.
This January set a record for the city, having the highest hourly cloud cover since records began in 2013.
The persistent cloudiness can be attributed to several factors, including active weather patterns and occasionally higher-than-average winter temperatures. A consistent zonal jet stream across the Pacific and southern U.S. has been bringing in warmer air, which, in turn, has caused frequent intense fog events, especially towards the end of January.
However, the much-missed sunshine is set to return this weekend, promising a significant and welcome shift in weather for residents throughout southern Ontario.
With high pressure expected to prevail, the weekend should see minimal cloud formation and clear skies from Saturday onward. It has been 10 weeks since Toronto enjoyed two consecutive sunny weekend days, so residents are encouraged to prepare for some delightful outdoor activities.