‘Incredibly cool’: Ottawa to see temperatures 5-10 degrees below normal this week

A view of Ottawa. (CTV News Ottawa

It will be a cool and cloudy week in Ottawa, with temperatures dropping five to 10 degrees below normal for this time of year.

“This week looks incredibly cool,” David Phillips, Environment Canada senior climatologist, told CTV News Ottawa.

Temperatures were 13 C on Sunday and 11 C on Monday, and the forecast calls for highs of 14 C on Tuesday, 16 C on Wednesday and 10 C on Thursday.

Phillips says this could be the first May in a long time without a 30-degree temperature day.

“It is unusual. The last 15 years, there’s only been one other time back in 2019 where Ottawa didn’t have a 30-degree temperature,” Phillips said.

“In some of those Mays, you’ve had temperatures up to 34-35 degrees. So, it looks like you’re going to get through all of May without seeing a 30-degree temperature. That is a bit rare.”

The warmest temperature so far in May is 28 C, on May 16.

Phillips says temperatures will be “better” next week with highs into the 20s.

“We’re going to set the scene for about the first full week of June, the second week for sure, really warm temperatures,” Phillips said.

“I guarantee you that Ottawa residents will be complaining about the heat, not the cold.”

Phillips says Ottawa will see warmer-than-normal temperatures through June, July and August.

30 C days in May

Here is a look at the number of days the temperature hit 30 C in May in Ottawa:

• 2025: 0
• 2024: 1
• 2023: 2
• 2022: 4
• 2021: 2
• 2020: 2
• 2019: 0

Forecast

Environment Canada’s forecast calls for increasing cloudiness today. High 14 C.

It will be mainly cloudy tonight with a 40 per cent chance of showers. Low 9 C.

Wednesday will be cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of showers. High 16 C.

Thursday will see cloudy skies and a 40 per cent chance of showers. High 10 C.

The outlook for Friday calls for mainly cloudy and a high of 12 C.

Saturday will be cloudy and a high of 13 C for the first day of races for Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.

The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of 21 C and a low of 9 C.