Ottawa to see 2-4 cm of snow Tuesday, 10-20 mm of rain Wednesday

Hog’s Back Falls along the Rideau River in Ottawa on a cold March day. (Brad Quinn/CTV News Ottawa)

It’s a cold start to the first week of March in Ottawa, but mild temperatures will arrive tonight and the capital will see snow and up to 20 mm of rain over the next three days.

The temperature dropped to -22.7 C at 6 a.m., the third-coldest temperature of the winter. The coldest temperature of the winter is -23.8 C, set on Feb. 2.

Environment Canada’s forecast calls for temperatures to warm up above seasonal tonight and for Tuesday and Wednesday. A significant weather outlook calls for Ottawa to see 10 to 20 mm of rain on Wednesday.

Ottawa will see increasing cloudiness today with a 40 per cent chance of afternoon flurries. High –4 C.

Partly cloudy tonight with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. Low -6 C.

Tuesday will be cloudy with periods of snow changing to a few rain showers or flurries in the afternoon. Ottawa will see 2 to 4 cm of snow. High 2 C.

Periods of rain are in the forecast for Wednesday. High 4 C.

The outlook for Thursday calls for cloudy with a 60 per cent chance of flurries or showers. High 1 C.

Friday will see a mix of sun and cloud. High 1 C.

The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of 0 C and a low of -9 C.

Mild, wet spring

Environment Canada is calling for a mild, wet spring for Ottawa and eastern Ontario.

The three-month forecast for March, April and May says Ottawa will see above-normal temperatures, with above-average rain and snowfall levels over the next three months.

Temperatures are expected to be above normal for all of Ontario.