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Kingston & Weather

Kingston is a historic city with a population of 172,546 located on the shores of Lake Ontario, mid-way between Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. Kingston offers many unique and enjoyable cultural opportunities, as well as outdoor activities, thanks to its proximity to nature conservation areas. The city is home to three excellent higher education institutions: Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College, and the Royal Military College of Canada.

Kingston has the greatest number of restaurants per capita in all of Canada. It has its own hockey team and downtown arena, theatres, festivals, art galleries, and the renowned Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. Kingston is a transportation hub with a small airport, a train station, and a bus terminal, not to mention our city transit. There is access to the St. Lawrence River, Rideau Canal, and various islands, and additional travel opportunities await across the nearby US border.

 

Weather

Kingston has four distinct seasons, which can make deciding what clothing to bring difficult. Be prepared to purchase clothing in Canada, like a warm winter coat.

  • Unseasonably warm or cold weather is possible in every season. Be prepared by checking the Weather Network before leaving your house
  • It is always best to dress in layers of clothing so you can stay comfortable despite changing temperatures
  • If you have children, make sure that they are warmly dressed for school, as part of the school day is spent outdoors

  • March 21 to June 20
  • The temperature ranges from -6° to +21°C 
  • Spring can be a very challenging season as the weather can change very quickly. It is possible for it to snow, rain and be +10°C all in one day. It can rain without warning, so it is best to carry an umbrella with you every day
  • In March and April, you will need to wear sweaters, windproof and rainproof jackets, and rainproof shoes. In May and June it can be warm enough to go outside without a coat on
  • Don’t put your winter clothes away too early, we have been known to get our last snowstorm in mid-April
  • During this season, the heat in buildings is turned off and the air conditioning is turned on. The timing of this switch is based on the temperature outside
  • You can find summer clothing in stores

  • June 21 to September 20
  • The temperature ranges from +15° to +30°C
  • It can be hot and humid on some days, and wet and windy on others in the summer. Make sure you have access to sweaters and long pants in addition to your shorts and T-shirts
  • Buildings can be cold inside as the air conditioning will be running. You may want to have a sweater or light jacket with you
  • You can find fall clothing in stores

  • September 21 to December 20
  • The temperature ranges from +20°C to -9°C
  • September is almost as warm as the summer months, but October through to December often require winter clothing
  • During this season, air conditioning is turned off and heating is turned on, which can result in varying building temperatures. Dressing in layers is a good way to adapt to the changing temperatures
  • Buy a high-quality winter coat with a hood, long pants, sweaters, and waterproof boots or shoes for you and your family
  • Ontario observes Daylight Savings Time. This means that the clocks “fall” back by one hour in early November. The exact date changes each year
  • You can find winter clothing in stores

If you are not used to northern climates, talk to staff at the QUIC about other ways to prepare yourself so the changing seasons are not a shock. Despite the cold, there are a lot of fun activities you can do in the winter if you are warmly dressed. QUIC plans activities to help you and your family enjoy the winter season.

 

 

  • December 21 to March 20
  • The temperature ranged from +3 °C to -25 °C
  • Snow falls and often piles up throughout these months
  • January and February are the coldest months of the year, and can reach extremely low temperatures. You may be discouraged to go outside on certain days
  • It may be too late to buy winter clothing by the time it gets cold. Our stores carry clothing a season in advance, so your winter clothing options may be limited in January or February. Get thermal underwear tops and bottoms and wool socks for you and your family. Windproof hats, thick mittens, scarves, and warm, waterproof boots are essential
  • Some rooms indoors may be hot, while others may be cool due to their heating systems. It is a good idea to wear layers, so you can remove a layer if you are hot and put it back on when you get cold
  • Ontario observes Daylight Savings Time. This means that the clocks “spring” forward by one hour in early March. The exact date changes each year 
  • You can find spring clothing in stores

To learn more about winter and dressing for cold weather, watch this “Winter Wellness” video:

Both windchill and humidex will be shown in the “Feels Like” temperature on weather forecasts online and in apps. They reflect how additional factors like wind and humidity influence how hot or cold you may feel outside.

Windchill

Our bodies insulate us from outside temperatures by warming up a thin layer of air close to our skin, known as the boundary layer. When the wind blows, it takes this protective layer away, exposing our skin to the outside air. It takes energy for our bodies to warm up a new layer and, if each layer keeps getting blown away, our skin temperature will drop and we will feel colder. 

Humidex

The humidex describes how hot or humid weather feels to the average person. The humidex combines the temperature and humidity into one number to reflect the perceived temperature.