That is indeed a strange part of the world. I remember Oakville and Mississauga often having very different weather, despite being next door to each other.

Urban heat island in full force. If you live out in the country, the nights are colder and likely the wind can blow the leaves off the trees quite easily and your first frost probably occurred before it did along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

You're really into heat islands, aren't you?

I think it's probably the moderating effect of the lake and the lack of exposure to wind more than an urban heat island, that area's more leafy 'burb than concrete jungle.

yep, I remember having to research them in a physical geography course at university and the knowledge has sort of stuck.

Living along the lakeshore in Etobicoke and working in Brampton let me see it 1st hand.

I would rather have cold windy rain days like the UK than have snow after snow, bitter cold and having to shovel everyday day? No thanks!
Roll on spring!

You are perhaps in the wrong country.

Snow? Crowing just ever so slightly here..... other half and I sat by the river yesterday afternoon, no jacket required (in fact I was too darned hot and had to go find some shade). We plan on doing it again today because the weather is going to be a repeat of yesterday. Mind you, the rain is due back on Friday. Oh well, life's tough in lotus land especially when you're retired