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
The average number of days each month with precipitation
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
Daily percentage of sunshine
Average humidity
The relative humidity is moderate throughout the year in Ottawa.
The city experiences its highest humidity in December, reaching 72%. In May, the humidity drops to its lowest level at 49%. What does this mean? Read our detailed page on humidity levels for further details.
Relative humidity over the year
broken clouds and chance of slight rain broken clouds and no rain almost clear and no rainForecast for Ottawa
3 m/s
4 m/s
4 m/s
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:
The coldest season / winter is in the following months: January, February and December.
July has an average maximum temperature of 27°C and is the warmest month of the year.
The coldest month is January with an average maximum temperature of -4°C.
June tops the wettest month list with 105 mm of rainfall.
February is the driest month with 69 mm of precipitation.
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.
