Ottawa features a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons: long, cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The city experiences dramatic temperature swings, abundant precipitation, and significant changes in daylight, making it a destination with vibrant seasonal contrasts. Spring and autumn are variable and colourful, offering unique experiences for visitors year-round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Ottawa’s climate is shaped by its inland location in eastern Ontario, resulting in pronounced seasonal contrasts. Winters (December–March) are long, cold, and snowy, with average highs of –6 to –1°C and lows often below –14°C. Snowfall is abundant, averaging 175–224 cm per year, and snow cover is common from November to March. January is the coldest month, with minimums often falling below –15°C and wind chills making it feel even colder. Days are short, with about 3–4 hours of sunshine, and the city is known for its winter festivals and the world’s longest skating rink on the Rideau Canal.
Spring (March–May) is highly variable, with temperatures rising from –2°C in March to 19°C by May. Early spring can see lingering snow and frosts, but by May, mild days and blooming tulips mark the city’s transformation. Summers (June–August) are warm and humid, with average highs of 24–27°C and occasional peaks above 30°C. Nights are cooler, and humidity from nearby rivers can make hot days feel sultry. Thunderstorms are common, especially in July, which is also the sunniest month, with up to 10 hours of sunshine per day. Autumn (September–November) brings cooling temperatures (20°C in September to 5°C in November), vibrant foliage, and frequent rain. Late autumn can feature “Indian summer” heatwaves before the return of cold weather. Annual precipitation is abundant, totalling 900–1166 mm, with rain and snow well distributed throughout the year. Winds are generally moderate, averaging 10–14 km/h, but can be brisk during storms or cold snaps. Daylight varies from 8 hours 45 minutes in December to over 15 hours 30 minutes in June.
| Average climate data for Ottawa, Canada | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | -6 | -5 | 1 | 9 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 20 | 12 | 5 | -3 | 25 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -14 | -13 | -7 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 5 | -2 | -8 | -14 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 64 | 58 | 58 | 72 | 73 | 64 | 62 | 67 | 53 | 78 | 57 | 67 | 774 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 6 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 150 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 323 | 270 | 169 | 53 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 106 | 196 | 1,130 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 20 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 83 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 91 | 90 | 88 | 80 | 76 | 80 | 79 | 82 | 79 | 81 | 80 | 86 | 83 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 68 | 70 | 63 | 54 | 43 | 39 | 32 | 33 | 36 | 50 | 53 | 64 | 50 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
The best time to visit Ottawa is from late April to June and September to October, when temperatures are mild (15–25°C), rainfall is moderate, and the city is alive with festivals, outdoor events, and blooming or golden parks. These shoulder seasons offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, cycling, and enjoying Ottawa’s vibrant cultural life with fewer crowds than peak summer.
The least favourable time to visit is winter (December–March), when cold, snow, and wind are frequent, and daylight hours are shortest. While the city’s winter charm appeals to some, outdoor exploration can be challenging due to icy streets, snowstorms, and unpredictable weather, though it is a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts.
Ottawa has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Spring and autumn are mild but variable, with frequent weather changes and abundant precipitation throughout the year.
Summer temperatures in Ottawa typically reach 24–27°C, but heatwaves can push highs above 30°C. Humidity is high, making some days feel hotter, and thunderstorms are common, especially in July.
Yes, Ottawa receives 175–224 cm of snow each winter. Snow cover is common from November to March, and blizzards or icy winds can occur during cold snaps, making winter travel challenging.
Rainfall is well distributed year-round, but May, June, July, and October are typically the wettest months. Summer also sees frequent thunderstorms, especially in July.
Ottawa is moderately windy year-round, with average wind speeds of 10–14 km/h. Winds are strongest in winter and during spring and autumn storms, sometimes causing blizzard conditions.
Pack thermal, waterproof layers and insulated boots for winter. In spring and autumn, bring layers and a rain jacket. For summer, pack light clothes, sun protection, and an umbrella for sudden showers.
Ottawa averages 2,080–2,700 hours of sunshine annually, with July being the sunniest month (up to 10 hours per day). Winter months are much cloudier, with only 3–4 hours of sunshine daily.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (25.4 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (-6.2 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 10.1 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (14.5 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-14.4 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 1.4 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is October (78.2 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is September (53.2 mm). Over the whole year there are 773.9 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (17.1 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is January (6 days). Over the whole year there are 149.7 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (322.9 mm). The months with the least snowfall are June, July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,129.7 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (19.9 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are June, July and August (0 days). Over the whole year there are 83.2 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (90.5 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (76.2 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 82.7 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is April (14 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (9.8 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 12.1 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is February (69.8 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is July (31.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 50.5 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 8.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 2.2 h). Over the whole year there are 5.9 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 5). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, November and December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 2.8.
