Weather in Ottawa

Stay up to date with the latest weather information in Ottawa. In this section, you will find current meteorological conditions, detailed forecasts, and useful weather charts.

Ottawa, the capital of Canada, has a continental climate, which means it experiences four distinct seasons and significant temperature fluctuations throughout the year. Winters here are cold, with an average January temperature of around -8.4°C, when the thermometer regularly drops well below freezing. Summers, by contrast, are warm and comfortable, with an average July temperature reaching approximately 21.6°C.

Spring and autumn in Ottawa are transitional seasons offering more moderate weather conditions, but often with rapid changes. As for precipitation, it is distributed quite evenly throughout the year. The number of days with precipitation (whether rain or snow, depending on the season) also remains relatively stable, varying from 9 to 14 days monthly. This suggests that one should be prepared for precipitation at any time of year, although the city does not have a distinct dry or rainy season.

The climate of Ottawa is characterized by significant temperature contrasts throughout the year, which is typical for continental regions. The coldest month is traditionally January, when the average air temperature is around -8.4°C. During this period, nighttime lows can regularly drop to -12.7°C, while daytime highs rarely exceed -4.1°C. At the other end of the spectrum is July – the warmest month of the year with an average temperature of 21.6°C. During the day, the thermometer in July can rise to 26.5°C, ensuring truly summery weather, while nights remain comfortably warm at around 16.7°C.

The summer months in Ottawa, including June, July, and August, bring warmth to residents and visitors of the city. Average daytime temperatures in June reach 23.7°C, in July – 26.5°C, and in August – 24.7°C. Nights bring a pleasant coolness, especially at the beginning and end of the summer season. Daily temperature fluctuations in summer are quite noticeable: the difference between daytime highs and nighttime lows is often around 9-11°C. For example, in May, the difference between the average maximum (19.5°C) and minimum (8.1°C) temperature exceeds 11 degrees, indicating rapid cooling of the air after sunset.

The winter period in Ottawa typically covers the months from December to March and is characterized by persistent freezing temperatures. Monthly averages for December (-4.0°C), January (-8.4°C), and February (-6.6°C) are significantly below zero. Even in March, the average temperature is -0.9°C, although daytime values can already rise above the freezing mark (averaging up to 3.6°C). Nighttime frosts are a common occurrence throughout the winter, with minimum temperatures reaching -12.7°C in January and -11.6°C in February. Temperature differences between day and night in winter are also palpable, averaging 6-10°C, which means that even if the sun warms the air slightly during the day, nights remain cold.

In Ottawa, precipitation is distributed throughout the year, although the total amount, according to the provided monthly averages, is not large. There is no pronounced rainy season or drought period, but slight fluctuations occur. In winter, from December to March, when average temperatures consistently stay below freezing (for example, the average temperature in January is -8.4°C, and in March -0.9°C), this precipitation falls primarily as snow. In the warm months, from April to October, when the temperature rises above zero, one should expect rain.

The highest monthly precipitation, amounting to about 4 mm, occurs in April, June, July, August, and October. These periods also see the maximum number of days with precipitation — from 12 to 14 days. For instance, in April, June, and August, precipitation is recorded on an average of 14 days. Given such a small total volume, this indicates that precipitation in these months is likely to be in the nature of very light rain or drizzle rather than heavy downpours.

The least amount of precipitation falls in September — only about 2 mm, with the number of days with precipitation dropping to 9. This makes September the driest month of the year, although even here, precipitation will likely be very weak. In November, when the average air temperature drops to 1.9°C and approaches freezing, about 3 mm of precipitation falls over approximately 12 days; this may be in the form of light rain or transition into light snow. The remaining months (January, February, March, May, December) are characterized by approximately 3 mm of precipitation and 11-13 days with it, which also points to regular but very insignificant amounts of precipitation, whether it be light snow in the cold months or weak rain in May.

When planning a trip to Ottawa, it is important to consider its distinct seasonality and significant temperature fluctuations throughout the year. In winter (from December to March), you will need very warm clothing: a down jacket or parka designed for severe frosts, a hat, a scarf, gloves or mittens, as well as thermal underwear and insulated waterproof shoes, as precipitation at this time falls mainly as snow. Do not forget that average temperatures in January and February drop to -8.4°C and -6.6°C respectively, with nighttime lows even lower.

Summer months (June-August) in Ottawa are warm, with average temperatures around 20-21°C and daytime highs reaching 26.5°C in July. For this period, light clothing is suitable: T-shirts, shorts, dresses, sandals. However, since precipitation is possible even in summer (averaging 13-14 days with precipitation per month, albeit small in volume), a light jacket or umbrella may come in handy. Don't forget sunscreen and headwear. Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-November) are transitional seasons with changeable weather. At this time, it is best to use the layering principle: bring both light items and warmer ones (sweaters, fleece jackets), as well as a waterproof jacket or raincoat and an umbrella. For example, in April the average temperature is 5.9°C, and in October it is 10.3°C, but both warmer and colder days are possible.

Regardless of the season, comfortable walking shoes are a must-have, as there are many interesting places for walking in Ottawa. Considering that the number of days with precipitation remains relatively stable throughout the year (from 9 to 14 days monthly), a small foldable umbrella or a light raincoat will always be useful. Even if the monthly amount of precipitation is small, this means that the probability of encountering light rain or drizzle exists at almost any time of the year.