Weather
The weather in Ottawa changes with each season. Temperatures range from very hot in the summer to very cold in the winter.
Average monthly temperatures
The four seasons
How to dress
Here are the average monthly temperatures in Ottawa, in degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit:
Month
|
ºC
|
ºF
|
January
|
-10
|
14
|
February
|
-8
|
17.6
|
March
|
-2
|
28.4
|
April
|
6
|
42.8
|
May
|
13
|
55.4
|
June
|
18
|
64.4
|
July
|
21
|
69.8
|
August
|
19
|
66.2
|
September
|
14
|
57.2
|
October
|
8
|
46.4
|
November
|
1
|
33.8
|
December
|
-7
|
19.4
|
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Visit Environment Canada for the latest weather news.
The four seasons bring different colours and sights to the capital.
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In spring, temperatures are mild and there is lots of rain to help the flowers grow. Tulips, lilacs and daffodils are in full bloom. People start biking and rollerblading along the city’s pathways, and thousands of runners enter the Ottawa Race Weekend. Tourists from around the world come to Ottawa to enjoy the annual Canadian Tulip Festival in May.
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Summer can get quite hot, reaching temperatures in the high 30s Celsius and low 100s Fahrenheit. People escape the heat by swimming at one of Ottawa’s beaches. They also participate in different outdoor sports, such as soccer, baseball, and beach volleyball. On July 1, Ottawa celebrates Canada Day with concerts and a fireworks display on Parliament Hill. At the end of the summer Ottawa hosts the Central Canada Exhibition (also known as SuperEX), an eleven-day outdoor exhibition with games, rides and other entertainment.
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In fall, the temperature drops and the leaves turn bright shades of red, orange and gold. People hike in Gatineau Park, which is about 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa and has over 36,000 hectares of forest and lakes. Many residents drive to local fruit farms or orchards to pick apples.
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In winter, days are cold and temperatures can drop to almost 40 below zero Celsius and Fahrenheit. There is usually plenty of snow for winter sports and activities, such as skiing, tobogganing and skating along the Rideau Canal—the world’s longest skating rink. In February, people participate in Winterlude, an outdoor festival with concerts and an international ice sculpture competition.
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Like everyone else, Ottawa residents dress for the weather. In the spring and fall, most people wear pants and shirts, with light jackets for added warmth. In the summer, people wear lighter clothes like sandals, shorts, t-shirts, skirts and sundresses. In the winter, Ottawa residents keep warm in heavy jackets, hats, scarves, mittens and boots. Some people wear extra layers under their coats to stay warm on the coldest days.
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