What will the winter weather be like in Ottawa?

A man uses a snowblower after a spring snowstorm in Ottawa. April 8, 2025. (Tyler Fleming/CTV News Ottawa)

It’s a cold start to the meteorological winter in Ottawa, but the outlook for the winter months varies depending on which weather service you ask.

The meteorological winter runs from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, while the first official first day of winter is Dec. 21 as astronomical winter will follow the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

Ottawa will see below-seasonal temperatures during the first week of December, with a low of -10 C Monday night, -15 C Thursday night, -8 C Friday night and -13 C Saturday night.

The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of 0 C and a low of -8 C.

• Hourly and 7-day forecast on our CTVNewsOttawa.ca weather hub

Environment Canada says it will be a “normal” winter for Ottawa, while the Weather Network calls for colder than normal temperatures and above-normal snowfall.

Here is a look at the winter forecasts for Ottawa.

Environment Canada

Environment Canada is forecasting a “normal” winter for Ottawa.

The three-month forecast released on Monday calls for “normal” temperatures and precipitation levels for Ottawa and eastern Ontario through December, January and February.

Weather Network

The Weather Network winter forecast, released last week, calls for colder than normal temperatures and above-normal snowfall for Ottawa and eastern Ontario.

“A cold start to the season is likely with more winter weather leading up to and through the holidays across southern Ontario than we have been accustomed to seeing in recent memory,” the Weather Network said on its website.

“Colder than normal temperatures are expected well into January across the province. However, the pattern could become more changeable during the second half of winter, especially across southern Ontario from Windsor to Ottawa, with the potential for an extended stretch of milder weather.”

The Weather Network says an “active storm track” should bring “near-normal or above-normal” snowfall to the region.