It was wintrier than normal in Ottawa last month, as the city was blanketed with massive piles of snow and endured bitter cold.
Data from Environment and Climate Change Canada show that Ottawa had a colder and snowier February than average, especially when it comes to snowfall.
The capital received 109.3 centimetres of snow last month, more than double the average snowfall for February of 48.5 cm. Two significant snowstorms on Feb. 12-13 and Feb. 15-16 dumped nearly 70 cm of the city alone, leaving large snowbanks piled up on roadsides for weeks.
Other significant snowfalls in February include 14.4 cm between Feb. 6 and 7 and 12.8 cm between Feb. 27 and 28.
At 109.3 cm, it was the snowiest February in Ottawa since 1971, when 159.5 cm was recorded that month.
The average temperatures for the month were also below seasonal norms. The average high for February 2025 was -5.3 C, nearly two degrees colder than the monthly average of -3.6 C. The average low in 2025 was -14.4 C, 1.2 degrees colder than the norm of -13.2 C.
Feb. 2 was the coldest day of the month, with a low of -23.8 C and a high of -13.2 C. There was a high of -13.8 C on Feb. 18 but a warmer low of -18 C. The end of the month saw a warm spell, with four days of above-zero high temperatures, including a high of 5.8 C on Feb. 24.
March has begun with colder than average temperatures. The typical high around this time of year is -1.4 C, while the average low is -10.4 C, but Ottawa has seen lows of between -17 and -21 C and highs of -6 to -12 C.
Above-zero highs are in the forecast for later this week.
