Ottawa starts Wednesday, October 7 with light rain showers and a day that stays unsettled. There are no active weather warnings, watches or statements for the city, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
What today holds
At 5:05 a.m., the observation at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport showed a light rainshower, 6.8°C, humidity at 88%, and a wind from the south-southeast at 13 km/h gusting to 35.
The forecast calls for mainly cloudy skies today. There is a 30 percent chance of showers this morning, rising to 70 percent near noon. Environment Canada also flags a risk of a thunderstorm this afternoon.
The wind turns southwest at 20 km/h late this morning, gusting to 40. The high is 18°C, which is above the seasonal normal for today of 14°C. The UV index is 3, or moderate.
Sunrise was at 7:08 a.m., and sunset comes at 6:32 p.m.
Tonight and the days ahead
Tonight is partly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers overnight. The low is 8°C, a few degrees above the seasonal normal low of 5.
Thursday stays mainly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers in the afternoon. The wind becomes west at 20 km/h late in the morning, gusting to 40. The high is 16°C and the UV index is 3, or moderate. Thursday night brings cloudy periods with a 30 percent chance of showers and a low of 7°C.
Friday is cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and a high of 15°C. Friday night is the coolest of the stretch: cloudy periods, a 40 percent chance of showers and a low of 2°C.
Getting around
The wettest stretch of the day is forecast around noon, when the chance of showers reaches 70 percent. Anyone heading out at midday should plan for rain, and the thunderstorm risk this afternoon is worth keeping in mind for outdoor plans later in the day.
Wind is the other factor. Gusts of 35 km/h were already being recorded at the airport this morning, and gusts to 40 km/h are expected late this morning today and again late Thursday morning. Loose items outdoors may be worth securing.
The morning commute begins under light rain with damp air, with 88% humidity at the last observation. The forecast does not call for any alerts, but the shower chances that continue each day through Friday night mean a rain layer is a sensible companion all week.
Temperatures ease through the week, from 18°C today to 16°C on Thursday and 15°C on Friday, before Friday night dips to 2°C.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada.
