***NOTE: YOU CAN CLICK ON THE MAP TO OPEN A ZOOMABLE IMAGE***

If you’re spending the Thanksgiving Weekend in Ontario, you’re in for a treat as the fall colours are now peaking across much of the province! From Central Ontario to the Niagara Escarpment and parts of Southwestern Ontario, this weekend will showcase some of the best fall scenery of the season.

Over the past week, colour change has surged in many areas across Central, Eastern, and Southwestern Ontario, bringing that classic explosion of red, orange, and gold to the forests. For many regions, this weekend marks the perfect time to take a drive, hike, or just relax outdoors surrounded by nature’s best display.

Parks like Forks of the Credit, MacGregor Point, Sauble Falls, The Massasauga, Frontenac, and Murphys Point are all sitting at or near peak colour levels, with coverage between 70 and 90 percent. These areas are glowing with rich maple tones, offering stunning backdrops for family gatherings and Thanksgiving photos.

Check out our new fall colour park dashboard that lets you track the fall colour change for each provincial park!

FALL COLOUR PARK TRACKER

However, farther north, the colours are starting to fade. Northern sections of Central Ontario, including Algonquin, Arrowhead, and Bonnechere has reached their peak several weeks ago, and the recent rain on Friday has accelerated leaf drop in those regions.

In fact, Mikisew Provincial Park has become the first location to officially move out of peak season, with around 80 percent leaf fall now reported. Many of these northern parks are still worth visiting, but visitors can expect more bare branches mixed with patches of remaining colour.

The transition southward is now well underway, with vibrant hues starting to spread into the Golden Horseshoe and Lake Erie shoreline regions. Bronte Creek, Turkey Point, and Point Farms are now showing brilliant orange and yellow tones, while Rondeau and Wheatley continue to progress slowly, likely about one to two weeks away from their peak.

For those in the GTA, Niagara, and Prince Edward County, this weekend should deliver plenty of colour and comfortable weather for outdoor plans.

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST

The good news is that the Thanksgiving Weekend forecast looks mostly favourable for outdoor activities; however, there will be a few areas of rain to work around.

**ESTIMATED TOTAL RAINFALL ON SATURDAY** - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

Saturday will start off on a cloudy and damp note for many, especially across Central Ontario and portions of the GTA. Some scattered precipitation is expected during the morning and early afternoon hours, with the chance for locally heavier pockets of rain near the northern shores of Lake Ontario, between Toronto and Cobourg. Rainfall amounts could reach 10 to 15 mm in those localized zones.

Don’t let that discourage your plans, though, as the rain will be scattered and not persistent, and most areas should begin to dry out later in the day. By Saturday afternoon and evening, conditions will improve across Southern Ontario, while some lingering showers may persist just north of Lake Ontario.

Sunday looks to be the best day of the long weekend. Forecast models show mostly dry and mild weather, perfect for any outdoor Thanksgiving plans or fall colour tours. A few isolated showers could develop in Niagara or Far Eastern Ontario, but these should be brief and light.

**ESTIMATED AIR TEMPERATURE on SATURDAY** - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

After a cool and damp Friday, temperatures on Saturday will hover right around seasonal values, with daytime highs in the low to mid-teens. Which is about what you’d expect for early to mid-October. It’ll feel crisp, but not unpleasant, especially once the rain clears.

**ESTIMATED AIR TEMPERATURE on sunday** - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

On Sunday, slightly warmer air returns. Temperatures will rise into the upper teens, with some areas possibly touching 20°C or a bit higher in parts of Southwestern Ontario. It’ll be a comfortable, mild day overall, great for hiking, apple picking, or those traditional family dinners outside if you’re lucky enough to have a sunny patio.

Monday, Thanksgiving Day itself, should feature similar conditions to Sunday with a mix of sun and clouds, and daytime highs again in the upper teens or low twenties.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This Thanksgiving Weekend will likely offer one of the most colourful backdrops in recent memory across much of Southern Ontario. With so many regions now at or near their fall colour peak, and comfortable weather expected through much of the weekend, it’s the perfect time to get outdoors and soak in the season.

If you’re heading north, expect a more subdued scene with leaves already past peak. But if you’re staying closer to home in the GTA, Niagara, or Southwestern Ontario, you’re right on time to experience the full brilliance of Ontario’s fall foliage.

Grab your camera, take a drive down a country road, or plan a hike through one of Ontario’s provincial parks. The combination of crisp air, golden forests, and warm afternoon sun makes this Thanksgiving one to remember.

Enjoy the beauty, and Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Instant Weather!