'Can't beat the weather': Canada's snowbirds still flocking to the U.S., but some are going 'quietly' - National Post

THE TAKEAWAYStorageCafe compiled the rankings of the best escapes for snow birds. The top 10 destinations are located in southern states. The destinations offer mild winter weather, beaches, outdoor recreation and access to nature. As temperatures drop across much of the U. S. with the arrival of fall, many snowbirds are heading south in search of sunshine, mild weather and an escape ahead of winter’s chill. A new analysis from StorageCafe ranked the 10 best snowbird destinations in the U. S., with Florida and Texas dominating the list. A woman runs along the waterfront in St. Petersburg, Florida, on December 17, 2025.  (Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)The analysis considered the latest available data from the National Centers for Environmental Information, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, FEMA, the U. S. Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other sources. So, if you're looking to trade a cold winter for a warm one, here are America's top 10 best snowbird locations according to StorageCafe.1. Winter Haven, FloridaIn Winter Haven, the name is all you need to hear.

Toronto and Montreal have remained above the freezing mark every day for almost six months. While frosts and even some snowflakes have intruded across parts of Ontario and Quebec in recent weeks, the two cities have yet to reach that magic number. What’s even more remarkable is that a handful of communities across the southern United States have already dipped to the freezing point--and some have even seen accumulating snowfall. DON’T MISS: Official: Canada records first -30°C reading of the seasonThe last time we saw a freezing temperature in either Toronto or Montreal was the second-to-last week of April. Toronto hit -1.3°C early on April 20, while Montreal dipped to -2.0°C the following morning. Our average first frost in both cities occurs right around the middle of October. But warmer-than-normal years can see this milestone slide several weeks past due. Montreal once had to wait 207 consecutive days for its first frost, with the city’s first subfreezing temperature in 2017 waiting until Nov. 7. The latest Toronto’s had to wait to hit the zero-degree mark was Nov. 13, 2022.

Tropical cyclones top the list of nature’s most powerful storms. Larger than tornadoes and more intense than any single thunderstorm, these systems can change the landscape when they swirl ashore. A handful of tropical cyclones take full advantage of their surroundings to achieve the apex of their potential, the strongest storms nature can produce. DON’T MISS: What’s the difference between hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones? Tiny fraction of storms achieve upper limitsOnly about 4 per cent of all the world’s recorded tropical cyclones have reached the equivalent of Category 5 strength. Most tropical cyclones are relatively weak and short lived because it’s tough for all the necessary ingredients to align just right. But explosive development can result when all those factors come together in perfect harmony. Strongest Winds: Hurricane PatriciaAn exceptionally favourable setup off the western shores of Mexico in late-Oct. 2015 allowed Hurricane Patricia to grow into the world’s strongest hurricane since reliable observations began in 1966.

While there have been some weather hiccups in October across Canada, one commonality is the lack of fall storms. The month has brought a very different flavour to parts of the country, compared to September's weather. October started with summer-like warmth in Ontario and Quebec, while the West endured some chilly temperatures. That pattern has since flipped. But there haven't been many of your typical fall storms this season, making for a super-dry pattern in many areas in Canada. Let’s dive into why the storms are absent so far. DON'T MISS: What does a classic fall storm look like in your part of Canada? What fuels fall storms? A split flow, in which the jet stream literally splits in two, will prove a prominent feature during the second half of October, promoting a less-consolidated jet stream that would otherwise impact the coast of British Columbia throughout autumn. Some of that energy is being redirected down toward California, a change that’s significantly affecting our weather patterns across Canada.