On July 11, 2026, the City’s Infrastructure and Water Services Department shared a memo to provide the Mayor and Members of Council with a detailed summary of the extreme weather event that occurred on July 1, 2026, its impact on City infrastructure and the community, and planned next steps.
The City recognizes the significant impact this rainfall event had on many residents, businesses, and communities. We appreciate the challenges and disruption faced by those affected and remain committed to learning from the event and identifying opportunities to improve community resilience.
Background
On July 1, 2026, the City of Ottawa experienced intense rainfall over a short period of time, along with high winds. The extreme weather event caused flooding and widespread hydro outages across the city. Initial weather and rainfall data was collected from the Ottawa International Airport, which houses Environment and Climate Change Canada’s local weather collection information. However, this data is not representative of the impact across Ottawa due to the city’s geography. City staff have since undertaken a more thorough assessment of the storm to understand the localized intensity and scope of the event.
Read the full memo:
