Ottawa in March: a seasonal travel plan
Ottawa, Canada. In march, the average daytime high is 2.0 °C and the night-time low is -8.3 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Choose a month
Selected month: March
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Ottawa
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 2.0 °C
- Nighttime low
- -8.3 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 63.6 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 11.5
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | -1.3 | -11.6 | 3.5 |
| Days 11–20 | 2.0 | -7.8 | 3.1 |
| From day 21 | 5.0 | -5.8 | 4.9 |
What this month is like
Ottawa, Canada. In march, the average daytime high is 2.0 °C and the night-time low is -8.3 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
There are 11.5 wet days on average, with about 63.6 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Average daylight is 11.9 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.
What to pack
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — -4.7 °C, March — 2.0 °C, next month — 10.6 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 12.1, 11.5 and 12.6.
Things to do
Ottawa turns around the Rideau Canal: Parliament Hill and the museums on one bank, the ByWard Market and residential streets on the other. The centre is walkable, and in winter the canal freezes into a skateway that residents use on the way to work.
Parliament Hill
Walk across Parliament Hill and along the Ottawa River behind the main block. From there you look over to the Gatineau hills on the far bank, and the facades are lit after dark.
Rideau Canal
Follow the Rideau Canal from the locks below Parliament to the ByWard Market. Boats and kayaks use the water in summer, while in winter the surface becomes a skateway with BeaverTails sold on the ice.
Gallery and museum of history
Start at the National Gallery of Canada by the river, where a huge bronze spider stands at the entrance. Cross the bridge to Gatineau for the Canadian Museum of History; each building takes an hour or two.
Where to stay
ByWard Market
ByWard Market works for evenings: the market hall, pubs and restaurants fill the nearby streets. Mornings are calm, hotels are small, and Parliament is ten minutes on foot.
Centretown
Centretown suits a business trip: offices, the station and the canal are close. Residential streets stay quiet, though there are fewer shops than in the neighbouring quarters.
The Glebe
The Glebe is a district of Victorian houses, bookshops and coffee places beside the canal. It feels calm and green, with a bus to the centre or a twenty-minute walk.
Getting to and around Ottawa
A bus connects Macdonald-Cartier Airport with downtown, and a taxi takes about twenty minutes. OC Transpo buses and the O-Train light rail line, which runs through the centre, are the main way around. The core itself is easy on foot, with Parliament, the market and the canal close together, and cycle paths following the river.
Three days in Ottawa
Parliament and ByWard
Parliament Hill and the riverbank in the morning, then the Rideau Canal locks. Spend the afternoon in the ByWard Market and have dinner in a pub on William Street.
Museums
National Gallery first, then walk over the Alexandra Bridge to the museum of history in Gatineau. Return to Parliament Hill in the evening for the illuminated facades.
Canal and the Glebe
Follow the canal south to the Glebe: watch boats in the locks in summer or bring skates in winter. Lunch in the Glebe and take the bus back.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -6.3 | -16.7 | 62.2 | 11.5 | 9.2 |
| February | -4.7 | -15.8 | 60.4 | 12.1 | 10.4 |
| March | 2.0 | -8.3 | 63.6 | 11.5 | 11.9 |
| April | 10.6 | -0.8 | 89.7 | 12.6 | 13.5 |
| May | 18.9 | 6.5 | 76.1 | 11.5 | 14.9 |
| June | 23.0 | 12.2 | 100.9 | 15.1 | 15.6 |
| July | 26.3 | 15.6 | 104.0 | 15.6 | 15.3 |
| August | 25.5 | 14.9 | 97.2 | 13.6 | 14.1 |
| September | 22.3 | 10.7 | 64.9 | 10.3 | 12.6 |
| October | 14.4 | 4.3 | 92.3 | 12.6 | 11.0 |
| November | 5.3 | -3.0 | 62.9 | 12.3 | 9.6 |
| December | -1.6 | -9.5 | 76.1 | 12.7 | 8.8 |
Frequently asked questions
Ottawa: what is the temperature in March?
The average daytime high is 2.0 °C and the night-time low is -8.3 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and indoor activities for mornings and evenings.
How many days with precipitation are there in March?
On average, there are 11.5 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 63.6 mm. There are several days with precipitation during the month. A light waterproof layer can help you continue your route outdoors.
What should I pack for walks in March?
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — -1.3 °C; 11–20 — 2.0 °C; 21 to month-end — 5.0 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in March?
The average is 11.9 hours. Spread walks between the morning and afternoon, then leave the evening for dinner or indoor activities.
Is Ottawa worth visiting in March?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 2.0 °C and nights around -8.3 °C work for you. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
What can I do in Ottawa on a wet day in March?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Ottawa in March?
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Average daylight is 11.9 hours.