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Live forecasts update automatically; written guidance last reviewed 16 June 2026 by the Civic Maple Weather Desk. Data from Environment and Climate Change Canada and other national met services via Open-Meteo.
Check the live radar above to see where rain or snow is falling across Ottawa right now. Environment and Climate Change Canada operates the dual-polarization radar system that tracks precipitation intensity, movement, and type throughout the National Capital Region.
What area does the Ottawa radar cover?
The primary radar site near Franktown covers a 256-kilometre radius, reaching from Arnprior to the Quebec border and south past Smiths Falls. The radar at Ottawa airport provides additional coverage for the city core and eastern suburbs. Together they form the backbone of Ottawa weather monitoring for Environment Canada.
How to use the radar for your day
Use the 24 hour weather radar Ottawa loop to see how precipitation is moving. The ottawa weather radar environment canada feed updates every 10 minutes, making it reliable for near-term planning. Check the weather radar ottawa airport view for conditions affecting flights, or the Franktown radar for a wider regional picture of incoming systems.
How does the radar distinguish rain from snow?
Dual-polarization technology sends horizontal and vertical pulses. By analysing the shape and size of particles, the system identifies rain, snow, ice pellets, or mixed precipitation. This is especially useful during Ottawa’s shoulder seasons when ontario weather radar 24 hours loops can show transitions between winter and spring conditions.
Can I see ottawa weather hourly forecasts alongside the radar?
Yes. Use the radar to track current precipitation and pair it with the hourly forecast for the next 48 hours. Our 10-day forecast page provides temperature, wind, and precipitation probability for Ottawa.
Does weather radar ottawa franktown show different data than the airport radar?
The Franktown radar covers a broader regional view of incoming systems from the west and south. The airport radar provides higher-resolution data for the immediate Ottawa area, including arrival and departure corridors.
How long is the 24 hour weather radar ottawa loop available?
Environment Canada archives radar imagery for the past 24 hours. You can step through each 10-minute scan to see how precipitation developed and moved across the region during that period.