Fog And Rain

The weather chapter nobody writes because it doesn't sell tickets. But fog at 346 metres turns a view into a wall of milk.

I love fog at ground level. It wraps the tower base in cotton and makes everything cinematic. But fog at observation deck height is a different proposition. You ride the elevator up, step out, and see absolutely nothing. Grey in every direction. Your $40 ticket just bought you a view of the inside of a cloud.

How to read the morning

Before I go up — or send someone up — I check three things:

The ceiling. Environment Canada posts a Toronto forecast that includes cloud ceiling height. If the ceiling is below 400 metres, you will be in the cloud. Below 350, you definitely will. Above 500, you're probably fine.

The webcam. The tower has webcams on its own site. Check them. If the upper section of the tower is invisible from ground level, don't bother going up. This sounds obvious, but people buy tickets days in advance and go anyway.

The wind direction. Lake fog rolls in from the south and can sit on the waterfront all morning. It usually lifts by noon, sometimes later. If the forecast says south wind under 15 km/h and humidity above 85%, assume fog until early afternoon.

Rain

Light rain is fine. You can still see the city from the deck — the glass is on the inside, and the view through rain-streaked exterior glass has its own beauty. Thunderstorms are different: the tower is the tallest structure in the city and gets struck by lightning dozens of times per year. During active lightning, the outdoor observation area closes. The interior levels remain open but the mood shifts from "scenic" to "trapped."

When to reschedule

Most ticket types can be rescheduled. If the morning forecast shows fog and rain, move your ticket to the next clear afternoon. If you're on a tight travel schedule, aim for mid-afternoon in autumn — morning fog lifts, the light improves, and you can stay through sunset if your slot allows.

Honest admission: some of my favourite photographs of the tower are rain shots. The tower in a downpour, lit by its own LED ring, is moody and strange. But that's from ground level with a rain cover on my lens. From the deck in the same weather, you'd see nothing worth the elevator ride.