Live · CYOW · reported 1 h 6 min ago
Barometric pressure in Ottawa, Canada today
29.85inHg
1010.9 hPa (mb)
- 3-hour change
- −0.01 inHg · −0.4 hPa
- 24-hour range
- 29.85 – 29.91 inHg
- Station (absolute) pressure
- 29.60 inHg
- Barometer dial reads
- Change · near normal
Ottawa at a glance
How elevation shapes the reading in Ottawa
Ottawa is about 233 ft (71 m) above sea level. That is close to sea level, so the pressure you stand in and the sea-level figure in the forecast are nearly the same.
The reading above is the altimeter setting from Ottawa/Cartier Intl (CYOW), 12 km (7 mi) from the city center. It is the station’s measured pressure corrected to sea level, which is the number weather reports, apps and TV forecasts use, so you can compare Ottawa with any other city.
Ottawa elevation and what it means · Sea-level vs station pressure
| Elevation | 233 ft · 71 m |
|---|---|
| Weather station | Ottawa/Cartier Intl (CYOW) |
| Station elevation | 364 ft · 111 m |
| Standard air pressure at this elevation | 29.67 inHg · 1005 hPa |
| Air pressure vs sea level | 99% |
| Water boils at | 211.6 °F · 99.8 °C |
| Time zone | America/Toronto |
Reading the barometer
Is the pressure in Ottawa high or low?
Today’s reading is near normal. Weather pressure is quoted at sea level, so the same scale works for Ottawa and everywhere else.
- Very low Stormy < 29.50
- Low Clouds, rain 29.50–29.80
- Normal Changeable 29.80–30.20
- High Fair 30.20–30.50
- Very high Dry, clear > 30.50
Frequently asked questions
What is the barometric pressure in Ottawa today?
The live reading at the top of this page is the latest sea-level pressure reported by Ottawa/Cartier Intl (CYOW), 12 km (7 mi) from the city center. It updates about every 10 minutes; the graph shows the last 24 hours.
What is normal barometric pressure in Ottawa?
Weather reports for Ottawa use sea-level pressure, so “normal” is the same as anywhere: about 29.92 inHg (1013 hPa), with most days between 29.60 and 30.30 inHg (1002–1026 hPa). Readings above 30.20 inHg are high pressure; below 29.80 inHg is low pressure.
Why does a barometer in Ottawa read lower than the forecast?
Ottawa is close to sea level (about 233 ft), so absolute and sea-level pressure differ by only about 0.25 inHg (9 hPa). A larger gap usually means the barometer needs to be calibrated against the reading on this page.
Is the pressure in Ottawa rising or falling?
See the trend badge under the reading: it compares the latest report with the one three hours earlier. Falling pressure usually means clouds, wind or rain on the way; rising pressure means clearing and more settled weather.