Toronto weather: temperatures plunge as cold front arrives [Video]

Toronto saw a dramatic temperature swing Wednesday that one meteorologist likened to “experiencing winter and spring in the same hour.”

The day began with spring-like conditions, with the temperature reaching a high of 16.1 C at 11 a.m., which broke the record for the warmest Feb. 28 set in 1954 when the mercury hit 11.1 C.

However, the warmth didn’t last as a cold front soon arrived and brought a chill over the city.

“It is like a roller coaster. It’s dipping and diving,” said Dave Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

“We had 16 degrees at noon, and 17 minutes later, it was six degrees. I mean, a drop of 10 degrees in just 15 minutes or so.”

At 3 p.m., the temperature in the city dipped at the freezing mark – a 16-degree drop within just four hours.

“It’s like weather wars breaking out. …