There are four distinct seasons in Ottawa: summer, fall, winter and spring. Temperatures can range from 33° C (91° F) in summer to –40° C (-40° F) in winter, with average summer temperatures around 20°C (68° F) and average winter temperatures around –10° C (14° F). In summer, it is hot enough for residents to seek the nearest lake or swimming pool to cool off, while in winter, warm clothing is required. Both spring and fall are cool, and residents usually wear a sweater or light jacket. While cycling, swimming, tennis, golf and whitewater rafting are favoured activities in summer, winter’s white beauty offers its own recreational opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, skating, tobogganing and snowmobiling.

Precipitation

Statistics Canada Census 2006