Weather by month for Ottawa, the best months to go and how Canada's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
May, Sep
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 20°C to 22°C · 9–11 rain days
Jun, Jul, Aug
Still good weather, just not quite the top months.
Highs 24°C to 27°C · 13 rain days
Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec
The weakest weather of the year: too hot, too cold or too wet.
Highs -4°C to 6°C · 11–13 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -4°C / -13°C | 11 days (76 mm) | 4.9 h/day | 2.0/10 |
| February | -2°C / -12°C | 12 days (74 mm) | 6.1 h/day | 2.1/10 |
| March | 3°C / -7°C | 12 days (76 mm) | 7.5 h/day | 2.6/10 |
| April | 11°C / 0°C | 13 days (105 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 4.0/10 |
| Best month: May | 20°C / 8°C | 11 days (91 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 7.8/10 |
| June | 24°C / 13°C | 13 days (115 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 7.4/10 |
| July | 27°C / 17°C | 13 days (108 mm) | 12.1 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| August | 25°C / 17°C | 13 days (121 mm) | 10.9 h/day | 7.4/10 |
| Best month: September | 22°C / 13°C | 9 days (76 mm) | 9.5 h/day | 8.1/10 |
| October | 14°C / 7°C | 12 days (104 mm) | 6.4 h/day | 5.3/10 |
| November | 6°C / 0°C | 12 days (76 mm) | 5.0 h/day | 1.9/10 |
| December | 0°C / -6°C | 13 days (88 mm) | 3.8 h/day | 1.4/10 |
Figures for Ottawa; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
-4°C / -13°C · 11 rain days · 4.9 h sun
In Ottawa, days average -3.5°C with lows near -12.7°C, and 11 days see rain or snow. Scores put this month at 2 out of 10, a tough time with cold, short daylight (4.9 sun hours) and few reasons to visit beyond winter sports. New Year's Day falls on January 1.
-2°C / -12°C · 12 rain days · 6.1 h sun
February stays cold, with highs of -2°C and lows of -12.1°C, plus 11.9 wet days. The score of 2.1 keeps it in the avoid range. Sun hours climb slightly to 6.1, but this is still deep winter weather with heavy clothing needed.
3°C / -7°C · 12 rain days · 7.5 h sun
Highs reach 3.3°C and lows -6.6°C, with 11.5 rain or snow days. The score is 2.6, still a weak month as winter lingers and spring hasn't settled in. Sun hours rise to 7.5, a small sign of the change ahead.
11°C / 0°C · 13 rain days · 8.2 h sun
Temperatures warm up fast, with highs of 11.1°C and lows of 0.4°C, though rain picks up to 12.6 days and 105 mm. The score of 4 marks this as an ok shoulder month. Good Friday falls on April 3.
20°C / 8°C · 11 rain days · 10.4 h sun
May is the top-scoring month at 7.8, rated best. Highs hit 19.5°C, lows 7.9°C, and sun hours jump to 10.4, with 11 rain days. Victoria Day on May 18 marks a long weekend often tied to the unofficial start of summer.
24°C / 13°C · 13 rain days · 10.8 h sun
June brings highs of 23.7°C and lows of 13.4°C, with 12.9 rain days and 115 mm of rainfall. The score of 7.4 keeps it in the good range, with long days of 10.8 sun hours for outdoor plans.
27°C / 17°C · 13 rain days · 12.1 h sun
July is the warmest month, with highs of 26.7°C and lows of 17.1°C. It has the most rain days of the year at 13.3, totaling 108 mm, but also the most sun at 12.1 hours. Scored 7 for good, it's peak summer. Canada Day is July 1.
25°C / 17°C · 13 rain days · 10.9 h sun
Highs stay warm at 25.2°C with lows of 16.7°C, and rainfall is the heaviest of the year at 121 mm over 12.8 days. The score of 7.4 keeps August in the good category, with 10.9 sun hours for travel.
22°C / 13°C · 9 rain days · 9.5 h sun
September scores highest overall at 8.1, rated best. Highs drop to a comfortable 21.9°C, lows to 13.2°C, and rain days fall to just 9.3, the driest spell of the year. Labour Day falls September 7, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is September 30.
14°C / 7°C · 12 rain days · 6.4 h sun
Highs fall to 14.3°C and lows to 6.9°C, with rain picking back up to 12.4 days and 104 mm. The score of 5.3 makes this an ok month, cooler but still workable. Thanksgiving falls on October 12.
6°C / 0°C · 12 rain days · 5.0 h sun
November turns cold again, with highs of 6.2°C and lows of -0.3°C, plus 11.8 rain or snow days. The score drops to 1.9, an avoid-range month as daylight shrinks to just 5 sun hours.
0°C / -6°C · 13 rain days · 3.8 h sun
December is the lowest-scoring month at 1.4. Highs sit at 0.2°C and lows at -6.3°C, with 12.6 wet days and only 3.8 sun hours, the darkest month of the year. Christmas Day falls on December 25, drawing travellers who want snow and holiday markets despite the cold.
By trip type
City sightseeing
September and May suit city breaks best. In Ottawa, September averages highs of 22°C and just 9.3 rain days, the fewest of the year. May is cooler, with highs of 19.5°C and lows of 7.9°C, but offers 10.4 sun hours a day.
Hiking & nature
September is the best hiking month. Ottawa data shows highs of 21.9°C, lows of 13.2°C and only 76 mm of rain over 9.3 days. Summer is wetter, with 121 mm falling in August.
Events calendar
Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan)
Public holidays: Good Friday (3 Apr)
Public holidays: Victoria Day (18 May)
Public holidays: Canada Day (1 Jul)
Public holidays: Labour Day (7 Sep), National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (30 Sep)
Public holidays: Thanksgiving (12 Oct)
Public holidays: Christmas Day (25 Dec)
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes. September is the best month in our data, with a score of 8.1. In Ottawa, highs average 21.9°C and lows 13.2°C. It has the fewest rain days of the year, at 9.3, with 76 mm of rain and 9.5 hours of sun a day. Note that these figures are for Ottawa only. Canada is very large, so other regions will differ.
Yes. May is our second-best month, with a score of 7.8. Ottawa warms up to an average high of 19.5°C, but nights are still cool at 7.9°C, so pack a warm layer. You can expect about 11 rain days, 91 mm of rain and 10.4 hours of sun a day.
Yes, both are good, but they are not the best. July scores 7 and August 7.4. July is the warmest month in Ottawa, with a 26.7°C high and 12.1 hours of sun. It also has the most rain days, at 13.3. August is the wettest month, with 121 mm of rain. If you want drier weather, choose September.
We suggest you avoid them if you want mild weather. December scores 1.4, the lowest of the year. It has only 3.8 hours of sun a day. January scores 2, with an average high of -3.5°C and lows of -12.7°C in Ottawa. November to March are all rated 'avoid' in our data.
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