Ottawa wakes up to a mostly cloudy and mild Thursday, with a chance of showers through the day and a risk of a thunderstorm late this afternoon. No weather warnings, watches or statements are in effect for the city.
What Today Holds
At 5 a.m., conditions at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport were mostly cloudy at 10.3°C, with a west-southwest wind at 12 km/h gusting to 27 and humidity at 93 percent.
Environment and Climate Change Canada calls for mainly cloudy skies today with a 40 percent chance of showers. There is a risk of a thunderstorm late this afternoon. The wind becomes west at 20 km/h near noon, gusting to 40. The high is 16°C, a couple of degrees above the seasonal normal of 14°C. The UV index is 3, or moderate.
Sunrise was at 7:09 a.m., and the sun sets at 6:30 p.m.
Tonight
Tonight stays partly cloudy with another 40 percent chance of showers. The west wind of 20 km/h becomes light this evening. The overnight low is 4°C, just under the seasonal normal low of 5°C.
Friday and the Weekend
Friday brings a mix of sun and cloud, 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 13°C and the UV index is 3, or moderate. Friday night is clear, with a low of 2°C.
Saturday looks like the best day of the stretch. It is forecast to be sunny with a high of 15°C. Saturday night turns to cloudy periods with a low of 10°C.
Getting Around
The forecast does not carry any alerts, so there is no official warning to plan around. Still, a few details are worth keeping in mind for the commute and the day ahead.
Showers are possible at any point today, and the thunderstorm risk comes late in the afternoon, which overlaps with the end of the workday. If you are heading home around then, it is worth checking the sky before you leave and allowing a little extra time.
Wind is the other factor. Gusts to 40 km/h are expected near noon today, and again late Friday morning. That is something you will notice if you are walking or cycling, so secure anything loose outdoors.
Friday afternoon also carries a 40 percent chance of showers, so a jacket is a sensible choice both days. Once Friday night clears, Saturday's sunshine should make for a pleasant start to the weekend.
Weather information is from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
