Spring fever in Toronto tends to hit before spring really begins. In fact, you could say that by the end of February the city is officially ready to come out from under the winter capes they have been wearing. Whether the winter was mild or it caused hibernation, there comes a time in the lives of all Torontonians when complaints about winter are replaced by thoughts of spring. Here are eight signs that spring is getting closer and closer in Toronto.
Parkas have been replaced by lightweight jackets, no matter the weather
As the window between winter and spring begins to shrink, so does the number of layers people are willing to wear, even on days when the temperature isn’t 100% yet. Suddenly, even on the days when you would assume that people wouldn’t want to risk freezing to death, there is no winter coat to be seen. Instead, we shiver in denim jackets, lightweight trench coats, and hooded sweatshirts.
The ‘patio climate’ is defined by any temperature above 5 degrees Celsius
There’s nothing Toronto loves more than backyard season – we live for it. This means we stretch it out as much as possible after the summer and then get it back up and running as soon as possible, often even before spring rolls around. As soon as it’s technically warm enough, sit outside for more than three minutes without risking freezing, we’ll find a way to consume food and drink on a patio.
The same goes for the “climate of the shirt”
Any day you see the outside temperature, even in double digits, is a day where you will see people in T-shirts. This doesn’t mean it’s t-shirt weather, but it does mean that the people of Toronto are officially sick of wearing sweaters.
Runners are in shorts
Runners get as tired of hoarding protective clothing as the average Torontonian, so once you start seeing them running around in shorts (in February or early March), the city is ready for spring to make a more permanent appearance.
Festival announcements are in full swing
Summer may be the prime season for music festivals, but it’s long before spring that we start hearing announcements of festival lineups and advance tickets going on sale. Field Trip and WayHome are two such festivals, both of which make their announcements in February.
All winter gear is for sale.
You know spring is just around the corner when every store that stores something remotely related to winter is just trying to ditch it, to make room for bathing suits and sandals, which is too early for. Either way, anyone in the market for a new winter jacket or new pair of boots should buy now (even if they wear a t-shirt while doing it).
People want to go out again (instead of hibernate)
There’s a reason bars are quieter in January and February: Sure, some people just stop drinking after an indulgent party season, but other people simply refuse to leave the house. So it’s easy to feel the looming spring rush when people start to venture further, and they don’t even complain about it.
People are (generally) happier
In the winter, people in Toronto walk briskly, heads bowed and shoulders hunched in an attempt to keep warm. In short, we can be an unhappy bunch when the weather turns nasty. But show us even a little bit of sunshine and even the slightest hint of spring heat and all of a sudden we smile more, even (surprisingly) at other people on the street.
