What are the climate controls of Toronto Ontario and how do they influence the climate?

Question

What are the climate controls of Toronto Ontario and how do they influence the climate?

Answer 1

1. Lake Ontario - Proximity to the Lake Ontario shoreline.  Due to its location on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is not so prone to heavy lake effect snow squalls as Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse, NY or elsewhere in Southern Ontario, in places like Barrie and London.

2. Topography - Toronto rivers and ravines are prone to periodic flooding.  The city of Toronto is 17% forest which helps take some of the bite out of winter winds.

3. Urbanized land density.   An urban heat island (UHI) is a metropolitan area which is significantly warmer than its surroundings. The temperature difference usually is larger at night than during the day and larger in winter than in summer, and is most apparent when winds are weak. The main cause of the urban heat island is modification of the land surface by urban development; waste heat generated by energy usage is a secondary contributor

Answer 2

I believe they use the thermostat at city hall