Climate in Ottawa (Canada)

The climate of Ottawa is continental, with very cold winters and warm summers.
The city is the capital of Canada and is located in the southeast of the country, in the province of Ontario. Across the river of the same name is the city of Gatineau, Québec.
The climate is unstable and characterized by continuous clashes of air masses.
On the coldest days of the year, the temperature can drop to -25 °C (-13 °F) or even below. The coldest record is -37.2 °C (-35 °F) and was set in January 1957. In January 1994 the daily average was -17.5 °C (63.5 °F).
On the hottest days of the year, it can reach 33/34 °C (91/93 °F). The highest record is 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) and was set in August 2001.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -9.8 °C (14.3 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 21.2 °C (70 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 920 millimeters (36.2 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 50 mm (2 in) in the driest month (February) to 95 mm (3.7 in) in the wettest ones (June, September). On average, 175 cm (5.7 feet) of snow fall per year. Usually it snows from November to early April. Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 2,085 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.


The best time to visit Ottawa is from mid-May to late September. In midsummer, especially in July and early August, there can be hot and muggy days, so, this period can be excluded if you cannot stand the heat. In May and early June, it can still be a bit cold. However, you always have to take into account the possibility of rain and changes in temperature.

Ottawa - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -9.8 °C (14 °F), with a minimum of -14.4 °C (6.1 °F) and a maximum of -5.1 °C (22.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -26.5 °C (-15.5 °F). However, it dropped to -32.2 °C (-26 °F) in January 1994.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 6.5 °C (44 °F). However, it reached 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) in January 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 35% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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February is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -8.3 °C (17 °F), with a minimum of -13.4 °C (7.9 °F) and a maximum of -3.2 °C (26.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -24.5 °C (-12.5 °F). However, it dropped to -29.3 °C (-20.7 °F) in February 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 7 °C (44 °F). However, it reached 12.7 °C (54.9 °F) in February 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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March is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -2.4 °C (28 °F), with a minimum of -7.3 °C (18.9 °F) and a maximum of 2.6 °C (36.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -19.5 °C (-3.5 °F). However, it dropped to -28.5 °C (-19.3 °F) in March 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it reached 26.5 °C (79.7 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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April is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 6.0 °C (43 °F), with a minimum of 0.8 °C (33.4 °F) and a maximum of 11.3 °C (52.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -7 °C (19.5 °F). However, it dropped to -13.9 °C (7 °F) in April 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75 °F). However, it reached 30.9 °C (87.6 °F) in April 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.6 °C (56 °F), with a minimum of 7.7 °C (45.9 °F) and a maximum of 19.5 °C (67.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.8 °C (27 °F) in May 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) in May 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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June is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.7 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 13.1 °C (55.6 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (43 °F). However, it dropped to 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) in June 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 34.7 °C (94.5 °F) in June 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.2 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) and a maximum of 26.8 °C (80.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) in July 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 36.4 °C (97.5 °F) in July 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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August is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.0 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 14.4 °C (57.9 °F) and a maximum of 25.7 °C (78.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.8 °C (42.4 °F) in August 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (89.5 °F). However, it reached 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) in August 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.6 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 10 °C (50 °F) and a maximum of 21.3 °C (70.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.7 °C (27.1 °F) in September 2000.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 35.3 °C (95.5 °F) in September 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 8.7 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 4 °C (39.2 °F) and a maximum of 13.4 °C (56.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (25.5 °F). However, it dropped to -6.8 °C (19.8 °F) in October 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in October 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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November is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 1.8 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -2.1 °C (28.2 °F) and a maximum of 5.8 °C (42.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11.5 °F). However, it dropped to -21 °C (-5.8 °F) in November 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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December is generally a freezing cold month. The average temperature is of -5.2 °C (23 °F), with a minimum of -9 °C (15.8 °F) and a maximum of -1.4 °C (29.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -21.5 °C (-6.5 °F). However, it dropped to -31.2 °C (-24.2 °F) in December 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it reached 17 °C (62.6 °F) in December 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).