Ottawa wrapped up a noticeably dry September, according to new figures from Environment Canada, with the city and the wider Ottawa Valley falling well short of their usual rainfall for the month.
How dry was it
The Ottawa Valley received between 50 and 75 per cent of its normal rainfall in September. Ottawa itself came in at the low end of that range: the city recorded 56 millimetres of precipitation for the month, which is 56 per cent of what's normal for September.
Temperatures told a different story. Across the Ottawa Valley, temperatures were in line with normal values for the month. In Ottawa specifically, the average temperature came in at 15.8 degrees, just half a degree warmer than normal. So while the sky stayed drier than usual, it wasn't an unusually hot or cold September for local residents.
Not just an Ottawa problem
The dry spell wasn't limited to the capital region. Environment Canada says almost all of Ontario saw less precipitation than normal in September, a trend that's been building since earlier in the year in the province's north. For Ottawa, that means the shortfall isn't a local fluke tied to one weather system, but part of a broader pattern playing out across the province over recent months.
For anyone keeping an eye on local water levels, lawns, or garden plans heading into fall, the numbers help explain why September felt drier underfoot even without any dramatic heat to go with it.
What October looks like
Looking ahead, Environment Canada's October outlook calls for warmer-than-normal temperatures across much of Ontario, with the north and far north expected to see the biggest departures from normal.
That's a softer signal than September's clear-cut shortfall, suggesting the capital could see rainfall closer to normal levels as autumn continues, even as warmer-than-usual air moves across the province. It's a useful data point for anyone planning fall outdoor work, from raking to late-season gardening, since it suggests conditions may ease slightly from last month's dry stretch, though Environment Canada's own wording makes clear that's a mild lean rather than a firm forecast.
Sources: Pembroke Today
