Best Time to Visit Ottawa
Best time to visit Ottawa: July and September. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit Ottawa
Go in July and 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° | 8° | 2,4 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 27° | 9° | 1,9 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| March | 40° | 22° | 3,1 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| April | 52° | 33° | 5,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 65° | 48° | 3,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 76° | 59° | 5,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 81° | 64° | 4,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 77° | 61° | 5,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 71° | 54° | 2,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 58° | 43° | 2,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 42° | 31° | 2,4 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 29° | 16° | 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 | 51 in |
| Montreal-Trudeau International Airport | 95 mi | 47°F | +33°F warmer | 43 in |
| Montreal | 103 mi | 46°F | +33°F warmer | 42 in |
| Algonquin Provincial Park | 133 mi | 42°F | 35°F cooler | 35 in |
| Burlington | 138 mi | 48°F | +35°F warmer | 46 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- A warm mid-layer and gloves for early mornings and evenings
- Insulated outer layer, hat and boots with grip for ice
- Avoid high-elevation trails without traction devices - frozen surfaces persist in shade all day.
- 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 29°F (-2°C) in Ottawa with overcast. It feels like 23°F. Today runs from 28°F to 42°F. Chance of precipitation is 13%. Sightseeing conditions score 7/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit Ottawa is July and 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 81°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 8°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 much colder than average for October. The forecast high of 42°F is 16.7°F below the 58°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 4 PM to 7 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. driving is the strongest bet in Ottawa today at 9.3/10. Overnight lows near 28°F mean ice is possible on bridges before dawn.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in Ottawa right now
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 2:41 PM, Oct 28 local time.
Weekend outlook
☀️ 49° / 34°
Clear sky · 1% rain · wind 7 mph
☁️ 57° / 36°
Overcast · 6% rain · wind 6 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 | 2:41 PM (UTC-04:00) |
| Best months | July and 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 29°F (-2°C) with overcast. Humidity is 88% and wind is 3 mph.
When is the best time to visit Ottawa?
July and 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 2:41 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 October 28, 2026 at 2:42 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
