Best Time to Visit Ottawa
Best time to visit Ottawa: September. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit Ottawa
Go in September. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Climate in Ottawa month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23° | 9° | 2,4 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 27° | 9° | 1,9 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| March | 40° | 22° | 3,1 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| April | 52° | 34° | 5,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 65° | 48° | 3,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 76° | 59° | 5,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 80° | 64° | 4,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 77° | 61° | 4,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 72° | 55° | 1,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 60° | 45° | 2,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 42° | 31° | 2,4 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 29° | 17° | 3,5 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Subarctic. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How Ottawa compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Ottawa.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mont-Tremblant National Park | 90 mi | 40°F | 37°F cooler | 50 in |
| Montreal-Trudeau International Airport | 95 mi | 47°F | +33°F warmer | 43 in |
| Montreal | 103 mi | 46°F | +33°F warmer | 43 in |
| Algonquin Provincial Park | 133 mi | 42°F | 35°F cooler | 36 in |
| Burlington | 138 mi | 48°F | +35°F warmer | 45 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- A packable rain shell - 3 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Ottawa is a city in Ontario. Ottawa is known for Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal. It has a population of about 1 million.
Right now it is 61°F (16°C) in Ottawa with overcast. It feels like 59°F. Today runs from 62°F to 74°F. Chance of precipitation is 96%. Sightseeing conditions score 7/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit Ottawa is September. The climate is subarctic. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 80°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 9°F.
The closest major airport is Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), about 95 mi away. Nearby highlights include Mont-Tremblant National Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, Franconia Notch State Park and Watkins Glen State Park.
In plain terms. Today is slightly cooler than average for August. The forecast high of 74°F is 3.4°F below the 77°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 10 AM to 1 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. fishing is the strongest bet in Ottawa today at 9/10. Wet roads are likely; braking distances roughly double in heavy rain.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in Ottawa right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 6:55 PM, Aug 24 local time.
Weekend outlook
🌧️ 74° / 62°
Rain · 96% rain · wind 12 mph
☁️ 69° / 51°
Overcast · 4% rain · wind 7 mph
Things to do in Ottawa
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Ottawa.
Quick facts about Ottawa
| Type | City |
|---|---|
| State | Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 45°25′17.4″N 75°41′49.9″W (45.4215, -75.6972) |
| Population | 1.020.000 |
| Known for | Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal |
| Local time | 6:55 PM (UTC-04:00) |
| Best months | September |
| Climate | Subarctic |
Explore Ottawa
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Best Time to Visit for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ottawa?
Ottawa is a city in Ontario. Its coordinates are 45.4215, -75.6972. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Ottawa right now?
It is currently 61°F (16°C) with overcast. Humidity is 85% and wind is 10 mph.
When is the best time to visit Ottawa?
September offer the most comfortable conditions in Ottawa, which has a subarctic climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Ottawa in?
Ottawa observes America/Toronto (UTC-04:00). The local time is 6:55 PM.
How many people live in Ottawa?
Ottawa has a population of approximately 1 million.
What is the nearest airport to Ottawa?
The closest airports are Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), 95 mi away and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), 228 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Ottawa?
Popular options include Mont-Tremblant National Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, Franconia Notch State Park, Watkins Glen State Park, CN Tower and Letchworth State Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-supported) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 24, 2026 at 6:55 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
