Viewing weather for fall colours in Ottawa-Gatineau will ‘be ideal,’ Environment Canada says

The fall colours on display along the Ottawa Locks of the Rideau Canal in 2024. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)

The weather to view the fall colours in Ottawa and the valley is going to “be ideal” this fall, but the hot and dry conditions this summer may mean there will not be a fully canopy of colourful leaves on the trees, according to Environment Canada’s David Phillips.

A few pops of colour have started to show on trees across the national capital region as the cooler temperatures arrive.

“The viewing weather coming up is going to be ideal,” Phillips told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron.

“Warm, sunny, crisp nights and we are going to see a lot of that, so I think this is going to help the colour changes. Yes, there are a few leaves that have turned brown, and they’ve curled up and maybe they’re hanging on to that. So maybe we won’t see the kind of full canopies that we had last year, but I think the viewing weather will be spectacular.”

Phillips says he looks at several things when determining the vibrancy of the fall colours, including the weather during the “leafing season” in the spring and summer, and the viewing season in the fall.

“We’ve had stresses. We’ve had, my gosh, the drought was the good part of Canada, and especially in the Ottawa Valley,” Phillips said, noting the Ottawa Valley received half the normal amount of rain over the summer.

“Last year, we had a great viewing season because of the perfect weather in the fall, but it was a lot of wet weather going into it. We had 160 mm (of rain) this season. Last year, the same season, we had over 400 mm. So, it’s either too wet last year or to dry this year.”

Philips says the “viewing weather” is very important in the fall.

“That is what gives you the frame of that beautiful picture. If you can have blue skies and white, puffy clouds.”

The senior climatologist with Environment Canada says Thanksgiving should be the ideal weekend to view the colours in the national capital region and the Ottawa Valley.

According to Ontario Parks, the fall colours have started to change in the Frontenac, Sharbot Lake and Charleston Lake areas.

The National Capital Commission says the colours are still green in Gatineau Park, in the Greenbelt and in downtown Ottawa.

Here are a few places to view the colours in the national capital region.

• Gatineau Park: The showstopper for fall colours, with beautiful leaves on display along hiking and walking trails.
• Kìwekì Point: Overlooking Parliament Hill, Major’s Hill Park and Gatineau, a perfect spot to view the fall colours.
• Downtown Ottawa: The fall colours will be on display in Major’s Hill Park, in Confederation Park and along the Rideau Canal.
• The Greenbelt:  Check out the fall colours across Ottawa in the Greenbelt, including at Mer Bleue, Green’s Creek, Pine Grove, Shirleys Bay and Stony Swamp.