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Ottawa Weather and Climate: A Comprehensive Guide

The temperature in Ottawa can vary quite a bit throughout the year. Temperatures can be warm during the warmest months, and very cold during the cooler months. It also has a notably wet climate with much precipitation. Let's now guide you through the climate details for a complete overview.

Average maximum day and minimum night temperature

Visitors to Ottawa can expect significant temperature changes throughout the year. Average maximum daytime temperatures range from a comfortable 27°C in July, the warmest time of the year, to a very cold -4°C during cooler months like January.

At night, temperatures typically drop to an average of around -15°C during these months. Check out our detailed temperature page for more information.

Temperature ranges by month

Precipitation and rainy days

Ottawa is known for its substantial rain/snowfall, with annual precipitation reaching 1088 mm. Year-round, Ottawa has a balanced climate with minimal variation in precipitation. The difference between the wettest month, June, with 105 mm, and the driest month, February, with 69 mm, is minimal.

The mean monthly precipitation over the year, including rain, hail and snow

Sunshine over the year

Seasonal changes in sunshine hours are quite dramatic in Ottawa. While July receives considerable daily sunshine with up to 9.3 hours, December marks the darkest time of the year, where sunshine is scarce with only 2.8 hours of sunlight per day. Visit our detailed sunshine hours page for more information.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Daily hours of sunshine

Forecast for Ottawa

Sat   Jan 11
-4°C | -8°C
W 3 m/s
1.6 mm
broken clouds and slight snow

broken clouds and slight snow

Sun   Jan 12
-2°C | -11°C
SW 3 m/s
1.4 mm
partly cloudy and small chance of slight rain

partly cloudy and small chance of slight rain

Mon   Jan 13
-1°C | -6°C
SE 4 m/s
12 mm
overcast and snow

overcast and snow

Select a Month of Interest

Check the conditions for any month of the year.

The best time of year to visit Ottawa in Canada

During the months of May, June and September you are most likely to experience good weather with pleasant average temperatures that fall between 20°C and 26°C.

Other facts from our historical weather data:
  • When is winter in Ottawa?
    The coldest season / winter is in the following months: January, February and December.
  • Which is the warmest month in Ottawa?
    July has an average maximum temperature of 27°C and is the warmest month of the year.
  • Which is the coldest month in Ottawa?
    The coldest month is January with an average maximum temperature of -4°C.
  • Which is the wettest month in Ottawa?
    June tops the wettest month list with 105 mm of rainfall.
  • Which is the driest month in Ottawa?
    February is the driest month with 69 mm of precipitation.
  • Which is the sunniest month in Ottawa?
    July is the sunniest month with an average of 280 hours of sunshine.

  • No idea where to travel to this year? We have a tool that recommends destinations based on your ideal conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.