City comparison

Canadian Cities With the Highest Growing Degree Days

Frost dates tell you how long the outdoor window is. Growing degree days help explain how much heat accumulates inside that window. This ranking compares Canadian cities by base 50°F GDD, a useful reference point for warm-season crop planning.

Highest GDD Sioux Lookout 2999 base 50°F GDD · Moderate to high heat

Cities compared 178 Canadian cities with GDD values

Best used for Warm-season crops Tomatoes, peppers, corn, squash, cucumbers, and melons

The ranking

Cities are ranked by base 50°F growing degree day accumulation. Higher values usually mean more seasonal heat for warm-season crops, but frost timing and variety choice still matter.

Rank	City	Base 50°F GDD	Base 45°F GDD	Base 40°F GDD	Heat read
#1	Sioux Lookout Ontario, Canada	2999	4020	5176	Moderate to high heat
#2	Nelson British Columbia, Canada	2570	3581	4754	Moderate to high heat
#3	Dryden Ontario, Canada	2561	3524	4627	Moderate to high heat
#4	Markham Ontario, Canada	2561	3524	4627	Moderate to high heat
#5	Aurora Ontario, Canada	2396	3341	4427	Moderate heat
#6	Oakville Ontario, Canada	2396	3341	4427	Moderate heat
#7	Cornwall Ontario, Canada	2372	3282	4314	Moderate heat
#8	Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, Canada	2372	3282	4314	Moderate heat
#9	Kapuskasing Ontario, Canada	2285	3214	4280	Moderate heat
#10	Brantford Ontario, Canada	2274	3213	4288	Moderate heat
#11	Mississauga Ontario, Canada	2274	3213	4288	Moderate heat
#12	Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada	2274	3213	4288	Moderate heat
#13	Windsor Ontario, Canada	2274	3213	4288	Moderate heat
#14	Corner Brook Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada	2260	3196	4269	Moderate heat
#15	Milton Ontario, Canada	2260	3196	4269	Moderate heat
#16	Thunder Bay Ontario, Canada	2260	3196	4269	Moderate heat
#17	Baie-Comeau Quebec, Canada	2207	3099	4110	Moderate heat
#18	Hamilton Ontario, Canada	2181	3101	4154	Moderate heat
#19	Ottawa Ontario, Canada	2170	3069	4096	Moderate heat
#20	Gatineau Quebec, Canada	2170	3069	4096	Moderate heat
#21	Elliot Lake Ontario, Canada	2167	3076	4131	Moderate heat
#22	Burlington Ontario, Canada	2134	3039	4076	Moderate heat
#23	Chapleau Ontario, Canada	2134	3039	4076	Moderate heat
#24	Drummondville Quebec, Canada	2091	2959	3945	Moderate heat
#25	Stratford Ontario, Canada	2005	2886	3911	Moderate heat
#26	Granby Quebec, Canada	1977	2838	3818	Moderate heat
#27	St. Catharines Ontario, Canada	1973	2831	3811	Moderate heat
#28	Sudbury Ontario, Canada	1973	2831	3811	Moderate heat
#29	Trois-Rivières Quebec, Canada	1953	2793	3748	Moderate heat
#30	Amos Quebec, Canada	1952	2795	3754	Moderate heat
#31	Repentigny Quebec, Canada	1952	2795	3754	Moderate heat
#32	Leamington Ontario, Canada	1946	2801	3777	Moderate heat
#33	Peterborough Ontario, Canada	1946	2801	3777	Moderate heat
#34	Waterloo Ontario, Canada	1946	2801	3777	Moderate heat
#35	Port Alberni British Columbia, Canada	1938	3060	4609	Moderate heat
#36	Vancouver British Columbia, Canada	1938	3060	4609	Moderate heat
#37	Vernon British Columbia, Canada	1935	2835	3887	Moderate heat
#38	North Bay Ontario, Canada	1932	2801	3801	Moderate heat
#39	Cochrane Ontario, Canada	1925	2777	3748	Moderate heat
#40	Moosonee Ontario, Canada	1925	2777	3748	Moderate heat
#41	Kenora Ontario, Canada	1911	2774	3763	Moderate heat
#42	Terrebonne Quebec, Canada	1896	2756	3741	Moderate heat
#43	Belleville Ontario, Canada	1873	2762	3788	Moderate heat
#44	London Ontario, Canada	1873	2762	3788	Moderate heat
#45	Orillia Ontario, Canada	1873	2762	3788	Moderate heat
#46	Oshawa Ontario, Canada	1873	2762	3788	Moderate heat
#47	Surrey British Columbia, Canada	1809	2847	4147	Moderate heat
#48	Kelowna British Columbia, Canada	1748	2621	3659	Lower heat accumulation
#49	Terrace British Columbia, Canada	1748	2621	3659	Lower heat accumulation
#50	Mackenzie British Columbia, Canada	1742	2615	3655	Lower heat accumulation
#51	Smithers British Columbia, Canada	1742	2615	3655	Lower heat accumulation
#52	Pickering Ontario, Canada	1724	2568	3543	Lower heat accumulation
#53	Newmarket Ontario, Canada	1714	2551	3513	Lower heat accumulation
#54	Welland Ontario, Canada	1709	2544	3508	Lower heat accumulation
#55	Fort McMurray Alberta, Canada	1666	2482	3425	Lower heat accumulation
#56	Bridgewater Nova Scotia, Canada	1639	2476	3479	Lower heat accumulation
#57	Toronto Ontario, Canada	1634	2443	3380	Lower heat accumulation
#58	Chilliwack British Columbia, Canada	1610	2451	3439	Lower heat accumulation
#59	Quesnel British Columbia, Canada	1610	2451	3439	Lower heat accumulation
#60	Matagami Quebec, Canada	1601	2388	3290	Lower heat accumulation
#61	Portage la Prairie Manitoba, Canada	1586	2348	3219	Lower heat accumulation
#62	St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada	1579	2389	3351	Lower heat accumulation
#63	Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada	1579	2389	3351	Lower heat accumulation
#64	Red Lake Ontario, Canada	1530	2327	3248	Lower heat accumulation
#65	Shawinigan Quebec, Canada	1527	2313	3219	Lower heat accumulation
#66	Miramichi New Brunswick, Canada	1523	2330	3280	Lower heat accumulation
#67	Summerside Prince Edward Island, Canada	1505	2303	3247	Lower heat accumulation
#68	Charlottetown Prince Edward Island, Canada	1503	2297	3237	Lower heat accumulation
#69	Morden Manitoba, Canada	1497	2251	3117	Lower heat accumulation
#70	The Pas Manitoba, Canada	1497	2251	3117	Lower heat accumulation
#71	Moncton New Brunswick, Canada	1474	2257	3176	Lower heat accumulation
#72	Whitehorse Yukon, Canada	1474	2257	3176	Lower heat accumulation
#73	Estevan Saskatchewan, Canada	1461	2211	3075	Lower heat accumulation
#74	Sherbrooke Quebec, Canada	1460	2250	3164	Lower heat accumulation
#75	New Glasgow Nova Scotia, Canada	1448	2257	3234	Lower heat accumulation
#76	Dauphin Manitoba, Canada	1435	2162	2998	Lower heat accumulation
#77	Weyburn Saskatchewan, Canada	1421	2180	3057	Lower heat accumulation
#78	Humboldt Saskatchewan, Canada	1412	2165	3033	Lower heat accumulation
#79	Swan River Manitoba, Canada	1411	2144	2984	Lower heat accumulation
#80	Bathurst New Brunswick, Canada	1403	2153	3032	Lower heat accumulation
#81	Montreal Quebec, Canada	1403	2181	3071	Lower heat accumulation
#82	Quebec City Quebec, Canada	1403	2181	3071	Lower heat accumulation
#83	Penticton British Columbia, Canada	1396	2213	3183	Lower heat accumulation
#84	Powell River British Columbia, Canada	1396	2213	3183	Lower heat accumulation
#85	Campbell River British Columbia, Canada	1394	2297	3441	Lower heat accumulation
#86	Brooks Alberta, Canada	1392	2159	3053	Lower heat accumulation
#87	Fort Vermilion Alberta, Canada	1392	2159	3053	Lower heat accumulation
#88	High Level Alberta, Canada	1392	2159	3053	Lower heat accumulation
#89	Slave Lake Alberta, Canada	1392	2159	3053	Lower heat accumulation
#90	Rimouski Quebec, Canada	1371	2130	3017	Lower heat accumulation
#91	Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Quebec, Canada	1360	2102	2954	Lower heat accumulation
#92	Gander Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada	1357	2096	2956	Lower heat accumulation
#93	Kingston Ontario, Canada	1352	2123	3014	Lower heat accumulation
#94	Woodstock Ontario, Canada	1352	2123	3014	Lower heat accumulation
#95	Airdrie Alberta, Canada	1339	2122	3043	Lower heat accumulation
#96	Kentville Nova Scotia, Canada	1311	2157	3219	Lower heat accumulation
#97	Yarmouth Nova Scotia, Canada	1311	2157	3219	Lower heat accumulation
#98	Timmins Ontario, Canada	1297	2058	2950	Lower heat accumulation
#99	Truro Nova Scotia, Canada	1282	2128	3158	Lower heat accumulation
#100	Sydney Nova Scotia, Canada	1277	2031	2952	Lower heat accumulation
#101	Niagara Falls Ontario, Canada	1275	1997	2822	Lower heat accumulation
#102	Amherst Nova Scotia, Canada	1241	2037	2990	Lower heat accumulation
#103	Yorkton Saskatchewan, Canada	1227	1935	2750	Lower heat accumulation
#104	Edmundston New Brunswick, Canada	1184	1913	2762	Lower heat accumulation
#105	Cambridge Ontario, Canada	1176	1860	2652	Lower heat accumulation
#106	Rouyn-Noranda Quebec, Canada	1156	1870	2711	Lower heat accumulation
#107	Whitecourt Alberta, Canada	1155	1893	2766	Lower heat accumulation
#108	Wawa Ontario, Canada	1153	1853	2677	Lower heat accumulation
#109	Fredericton New Brunswick, Canada	1140	1902	2817	Lower heat accumulation
#110	Flin Flon Manitoba, Canada	1135	1784	2538	Lower heat accumulation
#111	Steinbach Manitoba, Canada	1135	1784	2538	Lower heat accumulation
#112	Thompson Manitoba, Canada	1129	1786	2551	Lower heat accumulation
#113	North Battleford Saskatchewan, Canada	1117	1822	2636	Lower heat accumulation
#114	Swift Current Saskatchewan, Canada	1112	1805	2601	Lower heat accumulation
#115	Hinton Alberta, Canada	1107	1837	2692	Lower heat accumulation
#116	Cranbrook British Columbia, Canada	1099	1866	2781	Lower heat accumulation
#117	Brandon Manitoba, Canada	1089	1781	2579	Lower heat accumulation
#118	Winkler Manitoba, Canada	1089	1781	2579	Lower heat accumulation
#119	Nanaimo British Columbia, Canada	1077	1864	2816	Lower heat accumulation
#120	Kitchener Ontario, Canada	1063	1715	2498	Lower heat accumulation
#121	Vaughan Ontario, Canada	1063	1715	2498	Lower heat accumulation
#122	Forestville Quebec, Canada	1061	1766	2600	Lower heat accumulation
#123	Saint John New Brunswick, Canada	1051	1851	2831	Lower heat accumulation
#124	La Ronge Saskatchewan, Canada	1036	1705	2485	Lower heat accumulation
#125	Lloydminster Alberta, Canada	1028	1723	2532	Lower heat accumulation
#126	Wetaskiwin Alberta, Canada	1028	1723	2532	Lower heat accumulation
#127	Courtenay British Columbia, Canada	963	1624	2393	Lower heat accumulation
#128	Saguenay Quebec, Canada	955	1634	2425	Lower heat accumulation
#129	Saint-Hyacinthe Quebec, Canada	955	1634	2425	Lower heat accumulation
#130	Rocky Mountain House Alberta, Canada	952	1648	2484	Lower heat accumulation
#131	Camrose Alberta, Canada	937	1632	2450	Lower heat accumulation
#132	Peace River Alberta, Canada	925	1630	2484	Lower heat accumulation
#133	Grande Prairie Alberta, Canada	912	1600	2457	Lower heat accumulation
#134	St. Albert Alberta, Canada	912	1600	2457	Lower heat accumulation
#135	Burnaby British Columbia, Canada	904	1623	2481	Lower heat accumulation
#136	Melfort Saskatchewan, Canada	901	1564	2343	Lower heat accumulation
#137	Regina Saskatchewan, Canada	901	1564	2343	Lower heat accumulation
#138	Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Canada	901	1564	2343	Lower heat accumulation
#139	Canmore Alberta, Canada	883	1552	2344	Lower heat accumulation
#140	Chatham-Kent Ontario, Canada	873	1486	2210	Lower heat accumulation
#141	Guelph Ontario, Canada	873	1486	2210	Lower heat accumulation
#142	Prince Albert Saskatchewan, Canada	870	1473	2185	Lower heat accumulation
#143	Lethbridge Alberta, Canada	867	1542	2337	Lower heat accumulation
#144	Okotoks Alberta, Canada	867	1542	2337	Lower heat accumulation
#145	Fort Nelson British Columbia, Canada	854	1545	2391	Lower heat accumulation
#146	Calgary Alberta, Canada	841	1527	2345	Lower heat accumulation
#147	Cochrane Alberta, Canada	833	1515	2324	Lower heat accumulation
#148	Cold Lake Alberta, Canada	833	1515	2324	Lower heat accumulation
#149	Edson Alberta, Canada	833	1515	2324	Lower heat accumulation
#150	Williams Lake British Columbia, Canada	830	1535	2387	Lower heat accumulation
#151	100 Mile House British Columbia, Canada	819	1505	2339	Lower heat accumulation
#152	Barrie Ontario, Canada	808	1431	2181	Lower heat accumulation
#153	Owen Sound Ontario, Canada	808	1431	2181	Lower heat accumulation
#154	Spruce Grove Alberta, Canada	803	1470	2291	Lower heat accumulation
#155	Whistler British Columbia, Canada	775	1444	2242	Lower heat accumulation
#156	Chibougamau Quebec, Canada	758	1384	2153	Lower heat accumulation
#157	Val-d'Or Quebec, Canada	758	1384	2153	Lower heat accumulation
#158	Whitby Ontario, Canada	730	1300	1984	Lower heat accumulation
#159	Yellowknife Northwest Territories, Canada	725	1287	1960	Lower heat accumulation
#160	Selkirk Manitoba, Canada	703	1241	1889	Lower heat accumulation
#161	Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada	703	1241	1889	Lower heat accumulation
#162	Abbotsford British Columbia, Canada	689	1608	2992	Lower heat accumulation
#163	Salmon Arm British Columbia, Canada	689	1608	2992	Lower heat accumulation
#164	Victoria British Columbia, Canada	689	1608	2992	Lower heat accumulation
#165	Edmonton Alberta, Canada	679	1326	2110	Lower heat accumulation
#166	Fort St. John British Columbia, Canada	679	1342	2193	Lower heat accumulation
#167	Kamloops British Columbia, Canada	679	1342	2193	Lower heat accumulation
#168	Meadow Lake Saskatchewan, Canada	678	1224	1883	Lower heat accumulation
#169	Kindersley Saskatchewan, Canada	640	1172	1818	Lower heat accumulation
#170	Medicine Hat Alberta, Canada	589	1197	1956	Lower heat accumulation
#171	Red Deer Alberta, Canada	589	1197	1956	Lower heat accumulation
#172	Revelstoke British Columbia, Canada	585	1249	2087	Lower heat accumulation
#173	Banff Alberta, Canada	503	1088	1843	Lower heat accumulation
#174	Lacombe Alberta, Canada	503	1088	1843	Lower heat accumulation
#175	Leduc Alberta, Canada	325	850	1551	Lower heat accumulation
#176	Prince George British Columbia, Canada	287	808	1494	Lower heat accumulation
#177	Sept-Îles Quebec, Canada	71	371	834	Lower heat accumulation
#178	Hay River Northwest Territories, Canada	0	83	386	Lower heat accumulation

What this ranking means

A city with more base 50°F GDD generally has more heat available for warm-season crops, but it may not always have the longest frost-free window. That is why both frost dates and GDD matter when estimating whether a crop is likely to mature before first frost.

For a full searchable reference table, open Growing Degree Days by City.

Methodology

Canadian cities are ranked by their base 50°F seasonal growing degree day reference value. Base 50°F GDD is a useful broad comparison point for warm-season crops, though individual crops may use different base temperatures.

High GDD does not guarantee crop success. Frost timing, soil temperature, irrigation, cloud cover, variety choice, microclimate, and gardener timing still affect real-world maturity and harvest quality.

Download: highest growing degree days JSON.