Ottawa in May: a seasonal travel plan
Ottawa, Canada. In may, the average daytime high is 18.9 °C and the night-time low is 6.5 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Choose a month
Selected month: May
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Ottawa
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 18.9 °C
- Nighttime low
- 6.5 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 76.1 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 11.5
- Daylight
- 14.9 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 | 15.8 | 3.5 | 4.1 |
| Days 11–20 | 18.8 | 6.1 | 3.2 |
| From day 21 | 21.8 | 9.6 | 4.2 |
What this month is like
Ottawa, Canada. In may, the average daytime high is 18.9 °C and the night-time low is 6.5 °C. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
There are 11.5 wet days on average, with about 76.1 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
Average daylight is 14.9 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed 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
Bring light daytime clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for cooler hours. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. A compact rain jacket takes little room in a day bag.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 10.6 °C, May — 18.9 °C, next month — 23.0 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 12.6, 11.5 and 15.1.
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 May?
The average daytime high is 18.9 °C and the night-time low is 6.5 °C. Daytime is suitable for a longer walk around the city. Leave time for breaks and lunch along the way.
How many days with precipitation are there in May?
On average, there are 11.5 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 76.1 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 May?
Bring light daytime clothes, comfortable shoes and an extra layer for cooler hours. The day-to-night temperature difference is noticeable, so dressing in layers is practical. 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 — 15.8 °C; 11–20 — 18.8 °C; 21 to month-end — 21.8 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in May?
The average is 14.9 hours. Long daylight hours make it easy to split a walk between morning and evening, with a longer break in between.
Is Ottawa worth visiting in May?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 18.9 °C and nights around 6.5 °C work for you. Plan the main route in daylight and add an extra layer for early and late hours.
What can I do in Ottawa on a wet day in May?
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 May?
Pack a jacket or jumper, long trousers and closed shoes. Average daylight is 14.9 hours.