Our verdict
The best time to visit Ottawa is September-October
During the warmer months, temperatures in Ottawa can rise to a maximum of 27℃ (81℉). In the colder months such as January, temperatures usually get down to an average minimum of -14℃ (6℉).
If you’re a sun-chaser and want to visit Ottawa when the days are longest, you should visit in July. The wet season in Ottawa usually falls during the months surrounding October each year. It’s not uncommon to get some decent rainfall or light showers during this time, but on some days the weather tends to be fine for a majority of the day, with only a few drops of rain falling from a passing shower.
Continue reading to find out more about when to visit Ottawa, including the climate, seasonal info, what to pack, FAQs, and the best tools to help you plan and book your next vacation.
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Ottawa seasons
Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Ottawa as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Ottawa is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the seasons fall during these months:
| Season | Months |
|---|---|
| Summer | June to August |
| Autumn/fall | September to November |
| Winter | December to February |
| Spring | March to May |
Average temperatures in Ottawa
If the temperature is a big factor for you to help you decide when to visit, the chart below shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Ottawa for each month side-by-side so you can easily see the difference in weather throughout the year. To see the temperatures in both Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F), hover or tap the shaded boxes on the graph.
Ottawa climate by month
If you already have a rough idea about which months you might want to travel, the section below shows a detailed breakdown of the climate in Ottawa for each month so you can see if it all suits your wants and needs. Scroll down, or use the quick menu below to jump to your preferred month.
Jump to:
Ottawa in January
- Average temperature: -10℃ (14℉)
- Average high temperature: -6℃ (21℉)
- Average low temperature: -14℃ (6℉)
- Average humidity: 91%
- Average sunny days: 11 days
- Average rainfall: 64mm (3") over 6 days
- Average snow days: 20 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in January, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Ottawa in February
- Average temperature: -9℃ (17℉)
- Average high temperature: -5℃ (23℉)
- Average low temperature: -13℃ (8℉)
- Average humidity: 91%
- Average sunny days: 9 days
- Average rainfall: 57mm (2") over 6 days
- Average snow days: 19 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in February, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Ottawa in March
- Average temperature: -3℃ (27℉)
- Average high temperature: 1℃ (33℉)
- Average low temperature: -7℃ (20℉)
- Average humidity: 87%
- Average sunny days: 11 days
- Average rainfall: 59mm (2") over 10 days
- Average snow days: 14 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in March, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Ottawa in April
- Average temperature: 5℃ (41℉)
- Average high temperature: 9℃ (49℉)
- Average low temperature: 1℃ (33℉)
- Average humidity: 79%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 73mm (3") over 15 days
- Average snow days: 5 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in April, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Ottawa in May
- Average temperature: 13℃ (55℉)
- Average high temperature: 18℃ (64℉)
- Average low temperature: 7℃ (45℉)
- Average humidity: 77%
- Average sunny days: 13 days
- Average rainfall: 73mm (3") over 16 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in May, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Ottawa in June
- Average temperature: 17℃ (62℉)
- Average high temperature: 22℃ (71℉)
- Average low temperature: 11℃ (52℉)
- Average humidity: 80%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 58mm (2") over 16 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in June, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.
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Ottawa in July
- Average temperature: 20℃ (68℉)
- Average high temperature: 25℃ (77℉)
- Average low temperature: 14℃ (58℉)
- Average humidity: 79%
- Average sunny days: 12 days
- Average rainfall: 57mm (2") over 16 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in July, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.
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Ottawa in August
- Average temperature: 19℃ (66℉)
- Average high temperature: 24℃ (75℉)
- Average low temperature: 14℃ (57℉)
- Average humidity: 81%
- Average sunny days: 13 days
- Average rainfall: 59mm (2") over 16 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in August, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.
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Ottawa in September
- Average temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
- Average high temperature: 20℃ (68℉)
- Average low temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
- Average humidity: 80%
- Average sunny days: 15 days
- Average rainfall: 54mm (2") over 13 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in September, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.
Ottawa in October
- Average temperature: 9℃ (47℉)
- Average high temperature: 12℃ (54℉)
- Average low temperature: 5℃ (41℉)
- Average humidity: 81%
- Average sunny days: 14 days
- Average rainfall: 78mm (3") over 15 days
- Average snow days: 1 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in October, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Ottawa in November
- Average temperature: 1℃ (34℉)
- Average high temperature: 5℃ (40℉)
- Average low temperature: -2℃ (29℉)
- Average humidity: 81%
- Average sunny days: 15 days
- Average rainfall: 56mm (2") over 11 days
- Average snow days: 7 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in November, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Ottawa in December
- Average temperature: -5℃ (23℉)
- Average high temperature: -3℃ (27℉)
- Average low temperature: -8℃ (17℉)
- Average humidity: 87%
- Average sunny days: 11 days
- Average rainfall: 66mm (3") over 8 days
- Average snow days: 17 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Ottawa in December, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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