Ottawa heads into the Thanksgiving long weekend with a partly cloudy Friday, a chance of showers this evening and a run of milder days to follow, according to Environment Canada's forecast for the city.
Friday: showers early this evening, then clearing
Environment Canada's Ottawa forecast for Friday, October 9, calls for partly cloudy conditions with a 60 percent chance of showers early this evening. The weather agency expects skies to clear near midnight.
The wind is forecast to blow from the west at 30 km/h, becoming light this evening. Friday night's low is plus 2, so anyone heading out later should still dress for a cool night. As of the Friday afternoon forecast, no weather alerts were in effect for Ottawa.
Saturday: the sunny day
Saturday, October 10, is the brightest day of the long weekend on paper. Environment Canada forecasts sunny skies with a high of 14 and a moderate UV index of 4. It is the only day in the forecast described simply as sunny.
Sunday: cloud and a chance of rain
Sunday, October 11, turns cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain and a high of 20. That is a noticeable jump from Saturday's high of 14.
Sunday night looks wetter. Environment Canada carries a 60 percent chance of rain overnight, with a low of 12.
Thanksgiving Monday
On Thanksgiving Monday, October 12, the forecast is cloudy with a high of 21. Monday night brings a 40 percent chance of showers and a low of 7.
A wider look at the region
The Weather Network, looking at southern Ontario and Quebec more broadly, said the Thanksgiving weekend would start with "an abundance of sunshine and warmer temperatures" that would feel "more like summer", with highs in the lower to mid-20s. That outlook covers the wider region rather than Ottawa alone, so the Environment Canada numbers above are the ones to use for city plans.
What it means for plans
For anyone planning to get outside, Saturday is the day the forecast favours, while Sunday evening and Monday night carry the highest chances of rain. Anyone travelling on Friday evening should expect showers early on, with clearing by midnight.
Fall colours are also drawing crowds across the river. In ottown's earlier report, CTV News reported that the colours are peaking in Gatineau Park and that thousands of visitors are heading to its hillsides, lakes and lookouts ahead of the long weekend.
Forecasts can shift, particularly for the rain chances later in the weekend. Environment Canada's Ottawa page carries the latest updates and any alerts.
Sources: Environment Canada, The Weather Network
