5-10 cm of snow, rain to ring in 2025 in Ottawa

The Rideau Canal Skateway on New Year's Day. Cold temperatures are in the forecast for the first weekend of 2025. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)

It will look and feel like winter to start 2025 in Ottawa, with 5-10 cm of snow expected on New Year’s Day and cold temperatures returning for the first weekend of the new year.

Environment Canada’s forecast calls for 5 cm of snow today, with another 2-4 cm of snow tonight.  The stretch of mild weather over the holidays will end heading into the weekend, with a low of -8 C on Thursday, -13 C on Friday and -19 C on Saturday, while daytime highs will be -11 C on Saturday and Sunday.

The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of -6 C and a low of -14 C.

Environment Canada says Ottawa will see periods of rain or snow this morning before the precipitation changes to snow. High 1 C.

Snow tonight. Low -3 C, with the wind chill making it feel like -10.

Periods of snow will end Thursday morning then cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. High -3 C.

Friday will be cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of flurries. High -6 C.

The outlook for Saturday calls for cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of flurries. High -11 C.

Sunday will see a mix of sun and cloud. High -11 C.

Mild, wet first three months of 2025

Environment Canada’s long-range forecast calls for mild temperatures and higher amounts of precipitation in Ottawa through the first three months of 2025.

The outlook for January, February and March predicts above-normal temperatures for Ottawa and eastern Ontario, and higher-than-normal snow and precipitation.

Ottawa received 61.8 cm of snow and 34.6 mm of rain in December.