-20°, snow storms, and Canadian weather

As someone who comes from a Caribbean, tropical climate background, where our only two seasons are rainy season and dry season with heat all year round, the Canadian weather was definitely something that took some adjusting to.

Whether you have some prior experience living in a temperate climate country or not, Canada can get pretty cold no matter which province you're located in.

While 2017 was my first time experiencing the Canadian winter, my first time ever seeing snow had been over 12 years ago, so that first Canadian snowfall really brought back some crazy nostalgia. (Along with fighting the urge at wanting to make snow angels like how you see on TV).

My first Canadian winter was pretty mild in terms of the temperatures, wind, and level of snow. In addition to flying back home for the holidays, I didn't experience much of the winter that year.

However, my second year was completely different. That was the most snow I had ever seen in my 20 something years of life. Winter 2020 and 2021 were nothing compared to the Winter of 2019.

The Winter of 2019 was like living through a winter themed movie for me.

Heavy snowstorms were happening up to late-March, early April, where, depending on where you'd step outside, snow could be going all up to your thighs.

It was the first year I'd ever experienced classes being cancelled due to snow.

Obviously where I'm from, that is something I'd never heard of before. It'd be impossible to see beyond a couple feet ahead of you because of all the snow falling.

While snow might look pretty when you're sitting warm and snug inside, looking out through your window while the internal heating warms up your room, when it comes to commuting, or driving during the winter season, it can be one of the biggest headaches you experience while here in Canada.

Be prepared for longer, more uncomfortable commutes, even power outages are common in those winter months.

If I could describe the Canadian weather in one word, it would be unpredictable.

You could go days without snow, and a relatively warmer winter temperature, then out of nowhere, BAM, snow, BAM heavy winds, and before you know it, all your fingers feel like they're going to fall off, when 5 minutes ago you were contemplating if it was warm enough to remove your jacket.

Trust me, been there, done that.

Like I mentioned earlier, my first winter here was pretty mild compared to what I was expecting, so I made it through that entire first year with a relatively light fall jacket.

As you can see there was no hood on this jacket though. It never got too cold for me personally to the point where I felt like I needed something heavier.

However I can't stress enough, the importance of a proper winter jacket, especially a waterproof one.

Good quality winter jackets won't be cheap, but you also don't have to go spending hundreds of dollars on one that'll do the primary job of keeping you warm.

You can expect to pay a few $100s for a good jacket, and probably double that for the bigger name brands, like Canada Goose and Moose Knuckles.

I got lucky when I found this thick, waterproof winter jacket in Old Navy (in the picture below) that I only ended up paying $27.00CAD for, that has taken me through 3 winters successfully. A winter jacket under $30CAD, you read that right!

Pay attention to those clearance sales! My Old Navy jacket was initially $75 when I first saw it in one of the outlets, and I went back about two weeks later, and there it was, huge drop in price, and I snatched it up in two seconds.

I'd say it was a pretty good deal! It's like a thick duvet with a furry hood (fake fur of course)

I also believe that the jackets with (fake) fur hoods are a bit better, not just for the winter style aesthetic (you know you were thinking it) but they have proved to be super useful when it's snowing, or during a blizzard, because the fur almost seems to catch the snow flakes instead of having them blow directly into your face with a vengeance.

Having snow blowing in your face while you're trying to get somewhere has been one of my top 10 most irritating experiences of living in a temperate climate country.

I've also noticed that my ears are the first thing to get cold when its windy, or extra cold outside, so the jacket hood also helps with keeping your ears warm, unless you have a pair of earmuffs which also are pretty handy.

If you hate how hoods can look bulky, or if you've layered with a hoodie under your jacket for example, some winter jackets also have removable hoods, so browse the styles in the different stores and find one you like best!

One of my biggest pieces of advice in regards to preparing for the winter, is buying winter clothes off-season.

While it may be a bit harder to find winter clothes in the physical stores during spring and summer, since their floor stock would ideally match those current seasons, you can still use the time to buy some winter clothes online in advance as well.

That period right after the winter season, from around late-March-April, when there are clearance sales on winter clothes before they start brining out the spring/summer clothes is also a sweet spot.

It's a great time to get clothes in preparation for the next winter. You'll also end up paying way less for off-season since they'll no longer be in demand.

Use that time to buy a good pair of winter boots as well!

This is something where, again, you don't want to be like me and be too cheap about it.

I didn't buy a proper pair of winter boots in my first year, and by the end of my first winter, I had to throw them out. They weren't waterproof so you could imagine how that went.

It's nice to have a little variety in your footwear if possible, since winter/snow boots especially can be a bit heavy.

I'd recommend having at least two pairs or types of winter shoes; a lighter boot or bootie you can wear comfortably in the fall, and even in the winter when it gets a bit colder, something that can easily slip on and off, and then the heavier waterproof snow/winter boots for that unpredictable winter weather.

Also, ALWAYS check the forecast before you leave home. Another top irritant of living in a temperate climate country is leaving home during the winter in non-waterproof boots, and getting caught in the snow later in the day.

Now, not only are your boots wet (worse yet if it was a suede or fabric boot) but so too are your socks, and one by one, your toes feel like they're freezing off.

Pain associated with the cold is a different type of uncomfortable, trust me. Avoid it at all costs by being as prepared as you can be!

Even if you're unsure if it might snow later or not before you leave your place of residence, I'd advise putting on the snow boots just to be safe.

Staying warm in the winter time doesn't require you to buy the biggest, thickest, most expensive winter jacket, with the most expensive boots. There's no need to dish out your entire bank account, because at the end of the day, it all really boils down to layering.

That’s one of the biggest overlooked benefits of the winter wardrobe in my opinion.

In a colder environment, if you layer and feel warm, depending on the outfit you have the choice to remove some articles/layers and cool off, and vice versa, add another later to warm up. Back home in the tropical climate, you're already dressed for the heat, so it'd be a bit harder to remove any articles without ending up borderline naked.

There's also this whole idea in the winter time, the "fake sun" phenomenon I've donned it.

While the winter days tend to be pretty dark and gloomy, with very minimal sunlight and late sunrise and early sunset times, there are some days where the sun might shine through the clouds. Any warmth this brings though, is usually very short lived depending on the time of year, so don't be fooled when outside looks bright and sunny!

Even if there are few sunny days, and the place starts to feel a bit warmer, don't be too quick to pack away that winter jacket!

I’ve seen the temperature go from 14° one day to -8° with heavy winds and snowfall the next. Sometimes even within the span of the same day. The Canadian weather never ceases to surprise me. All these years later, I'm still adjusting.

All the winter woes aside however, I personally have always loved a cooler weather. People are always surprised when I tell them I prefer the cold over the heat, because they always assume I must love and miss the heat, coming from the Caribbean.

For me that's just not the case though. I've always felt like the sweaty feeling with the heat makes you feel sticky, and it's just uncomfortable.

The fall temperatures are my absolute favourite though. Give me a cool 12° to 18° and I'm good, I love it. It's like natural AC, not too warm and not too cold. Just right.

If you take away anything from this post, my number one piece of advice would be to never leave your place of warmth whether it be residence, your apartment, anywhere, without checking the weather app/forecast first.

And I don't mean looking out the window, or cracking it open and sticking your hand outside to assume how the day will go based on that 5 second test.

I’ve made many false assumptions seeing the sunshine and assuming I didn’t need to layer or at least put on a thicker jacket, and then get caught in a blizzard, or some heavy winds barely 20 minutes later.

Sometimes the winds are even worse than the snow! It could be 10° outside, but sprinkle in some heavy winds and it would end up feeling like -15°, just because of the wind.

As we say back home, "doh get tie up" aka - Don't be fooled.

Like I said, the weather is extremely unpredictable, so try to be as prepared as you can be, starting with checking the forecast. The weather app on iPhone has been pretty reliable in my experience, but wherever you can, whether it's a quick google search, or checking an app, check that weather before you leave.

Or if you have an Alexa, you can always ask "Alexa, what's the weather like/going to be like today."

Another tip is if there’s a snowstorm happening and you have nothing pressing related to work or school, and you can stay in, STAY IN.

You're probably thinking to yourself, well it's that obvious? But sometimes those bad weather days can fall within school-related deadlines, and the schools aren't always super quick in sending out a class cancellation or campus closure notice due to the weather.

I tried venturing outside during snow storms before and I can tell you it’s not worth it.

Trust me.

Stay home cuddled up in your warm rooms, and treat yourself to anything you can do that doesn't involve you leaving your place of residence. Catch up on some Netflix, call a friend or family member, work on an assignment.

Commuting is just terrible during bad winter weather conditions, and Uber and Lyft prices are almost always twice their regular price, since their demand basically triples during those times (because I mean who wants to commute, or drive themselves during a snow storm, right?)

In general, I've noticed that it doesn't really start getting cold enough for a thick winter jacket till around mid-November here, at least for me. Before that, a thick hoodie or a light jacket can keep you pretty warm from September to early November, especially if you layer up.

Sometimes I wouldn't start wearing my bulky winter jacket till January, but again, it's all dependent on your own preference, how quickly you tend to get cold, and on checking the forecast before hand so you can ensure you're as layered as you need to be. Whether you just need one layer, or four.

After some practice layering up though, I must say it isn't too hard to get accustomed to the temperature changes. Especially in Ontario, where the temperatures don't drop nearly as much down here as they do in other provinces, like Alberta or Saskatchewan.

The lowest I've seen temperatures drop to, since I've been here in Toronto was about -28° if I remember correctly.

But overtime, and with proper layering, 0° started feeling like 5°, and a chilly -20° started feeling like a cool -12°.

Eventually you’ll get to the point where you wake up and check the forecast, and 12° makes you happy because that’s a Canadian type "warm" setting.

It's really funny to watch how your perspective changes overtime, and how you'll grow to adapt to Canada. I'll still be on the phone with my mom to this day telling her it's 13° today, pretty warm, and she'll be in shock telling me it sounds like it's freezing over here.

Another tip: - Invest in a good scarf and gloves too! They go a long way especially during those blizzard days to warm up those body parts that aren't so much covered by your winter jacket. Your neck especially should always be covered! And the gloves help especially if you have a jacket with no pockets, or your pockets are full.

Also, no matter how old you are, if you've never made a snowman before, take a trip to your nearest park and make those memories, now's the time!

Share in the comments below!

My order is Fall, Spring, Summer and then Winter!

Here's a mini photo album of some Fall and Winter photos, and some videos to show you what winter is like (plus that winter of 2019).

This time of year really does makes for some nature nice material to live your best photographer fantasy! The fall colours changing is always a magical sight for me every year, without fail.

Snowfall ❄️

If this walkway hadn't been cleared, I'd have been walking through snow up to my knees😭

Some Winter 2019 footage. Snow everywhere after just a few hours.