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Winter Ottawa weather

You can use many words to describe Ottawa weather. But 'boring' is not one of them. Ottawa has a very real four-season climate.

Our Winters are WINTER.

Cold temperatures and snow start around mid-November.

At first, we welcome the snow and everyone starts hoping that we will have a White Christmas.

By January, the novelty wears off and I start looking forward to Spring. But I have a loooong wait.

January in Ottawa used to be the coldest month of the year, with heavy snowfall and 'reliable' cold temperatures. But in the last few years, January weather has been a strange mix.

Temperatures have gone above freezing. And we get a combination of rain,icy rain, snow storms AND frigid artic temperatures. Very unpredictable. It must make the planners of our Winterlude festival nervous wrecks, wondering how Ottawa weather will be for the festivities.

The unpredictable weather has messed up skating on the Rideau Canal in January for the past few years. It also drives Ottawa skiers crazy when there is no snow on the local ski hills.

By the time February arrives, we are almost relieved to have some 'dependable' COLD weather for Winter activities. The Canal gets filled up quickly with skaters and the skiers breathe a big sigh of relief.

Our Winterlude planners smile, as if they knew it all along.

But even in February, we still see temperatures creeping above freezing a few times.

Spring Ottawa weather

By the end of March, Winter starts breaking up and, gratefully, Spring weather comes in.

By April, the crocus flowers on Parliament Hill start to bloom ...I like the purple ones. Spring weather lasts until about the end of May.

Ok, technically Spring ends in mid-June, but who cares... it's not cold anymore!

Spring in Ottawa means the world famous Tulip Festival at Dow's Lake, the Queen Elizabeth Driveway and Major's Hill Park. And we can cheer the runners in the Ottawa marathon.

We can get out the patio furniture from the garden shed. Or go down to the Home Show at Lansdowne Park to see where we'll spend money for our next Summer project.

Summer Ottawa weather

Then, from late May to August Ottawa has beautiful Summers.

Summer in Ottawa means walking in shorts and sandals, jogging and endless cycling on the bike paths of the Ottawa river or the Rideau Canal.

You can see boats cruising the Ottawa River or 'climbing' the Ottawa Locks to cruise down the Canal.

Summer also means lots of visitors to Parliament Hill and to other Ottawa attractions. We have lots of festivals, flowers and flags. And we have concerts and outdoor picnics.

You can stroll down Sparks Street Mall to shop , to people watch or just to see the buskers perfoming their various Arts.

Summer Ottawa weather means going to the Byward market to get flowers. Or for a beer, depending on the time of day.

In Summer, you can paddle on Dow's Lake. Or you can enjoy cool Jazz at the Nepean Point amphitheatre.

You can also enjoy music concerts at the Rideau Hall, the Governor General's estate.

In Summer, You can bike or hike in Gatineau Park or visit the ever-peaceful Mackenzie King estate. Or you can just go to Meech lake to lay back and read a book.

And on and on... Yes, Summer in Ottawa for me is worth the cold Winter wait.

Fall Ottawa weather

But then, around late August, the first leaves start to change colour.

And every year, everyone acts surprised that the leaves are changing "already?", as if it's a new thing.

And slowly but surely, Fall weather creeps in until about late October. (Of course the length of these periods vary according to how the Ottawa weather god feels each year.)

Although it's cooler, I love the Fall.

Ottawa is alive with dazzling colour. The maple trees are all shades of red, orange and yellow to feast the eyes.

For my family, no Fall is complete without a trip to enjoy the spectacular kaleidescope of colours in Gatineau Park, in October. And to have tea and biscuits in the Tea Room at the Mackenzie King estate.

The only downside to Fall is that the cooler Ottawa weather is a reminder that Old Man Winter is just around the corner.

Spring, Summer and Fall are the best Ottawa weather seasons for me (and I suspect, for most Ottawans. Even those who claim to LOVE Winter).

So, based on my 'intimate' knowledge of Ottawa weather...

Here are my recommendations for the BEST months to visit Ottawa:

• Best months : Summer - June - July - August - enjoy everything without the snow

• Second Best: Fall - Early October, especially if you love colours

• Third Best : Spring - late April - May - For Tulips and happy, relieved people

• Fourth : Winter - February - for WinterLude, to enjoy skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway and to ski at the nearby ski hills.

Enjoy Ottawa weather ...especially our Summer!

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