Ottawa Weather History
Canada · North America · Weather data 1976–today
Ottawa sits 5056km from the equator, 74m above sea level. That combination gives it a climate with warm summers and cold, snowy winters (Warm-summer humid continental climate). Its record high is 37.1°C, set 1995-06-19, its record low -36.2°C, set 1981-01-04.
Data through September 19, 2026.
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Ottawa
What is the hottest temperature ever recorded in Ottawa?
The highest temperature in this record for Ottawa is 37.1°C, measured on 1995-06-19. That is a recorded daily value from Ottawa's own series covering 1976 to 2025, not an estimate or a regional average.
What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Ottawa?
The lowest temperature in this record for Ottawa is -36.2°C, measured on 1981-01-04. Together with the heat record above, that spans the full range this city has actually experienced across 1976 to 2025.
How much rain does Ottawa get a year?
Ottawa averages 1015mm of precipitation a year, spread across roughly 133 days with at least 1mm. That average is taken over 50 complete calendar years, so one exceptionally wet or dry year does not set the figure.
What was the wettest day on record in Ottawa?
On 1998-06-26, 88.0mm fell on Ottawa, the highest single-day total in this series. For scale, that is roughly 9% of what the city receives in an average full year, in one day.
How many hours of sunshine does Ottawa get a year?
Ottawa averages 2982 sunshine hours a year, which works out to about 8.2 hours a day across the whole year. Sunshine hours measure the time direct sunlight actually reaches the ground, not simply how long it is light.
How warm are summers and how cold are winters in Ottawa?
Across the summer months Ottawa averages a daytime high near 24.6°C, while winter nights average -11.8°C. The seasons here are set from Ottawa's position relative to the equator rather than a fixed northern-hemisphere calendar.
What is the strongest wind recorded in Ottawa?
The strongest wind speed recorded in Ottawa is 41 km/h, on 2002-03-10. That is the daily maximum sustained wind rather than the peak gust, which typically runs higher still.
