Cincinnati, OH Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Cincinnati
A 25°C spread between its warmest and coolest months puts Cincinnati among the more strongly seasonal places we cover. July averages 85°F (30°C) by day; January averages 40°F (4°C), with nights at 25°F (-4°C).
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 85°F (30°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 40°F (4°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 98°F (36°C) high · -23°F (-31°C) low
- Wettest month: March (12 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (11.7 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 25°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Snow: about 10 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 3
- Average humidity: 70%
Temperatures through the year
Snow falls on roughly 10 days a year, mostly November through April. January is the coolest month, with highs of 40°F (4°C) and lows near 25°F (-4°C). At its warmest, in July, Cincinnati runs to 85°F (30°C) in the afternoon and back to 68°F (20°C) by dawn. The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 98°F (36°C) and bottoms at -23°F (-31°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. Between the average July and the average January lie 25°C, a wider spread than roughly 81% of the cities we track.
Rain, sun and snow
The wettest month is March (4.6 inches (118 mm) across 12 days) and the driest October. Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 3 months, December through February. June is the brightest month at 11.7 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 8.6.
How Cincinnati compares
- Cincinnati sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 56°F (13°C) as an annual average, 45.9 inches (1167 mm) of precipitation and 8.6 hours of sun a day.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 25° | 11 | 3.5 in | 5.3 h/day | 9.7 h | 36% | 70% |
| February | 46° | 28° | 10 | 3.8 in | 6.5 h/day | 10.7 h | 36% | 68% |
| March | 54° | 35° | 12 | 4.6 in | 7.6 h/day | 11.8 h | 38% | 66% |
| April | 64° | 44° | 13 | 4.5 in | 8.9 h/day | 13.2 h | 43% | 66% |
| May | 74° | 56° | 14 | 4.4 in | 10.0 h/day | 14.3 h | 45% | 71% |
| June | 82° | 64° | 12 | 4.5 in | 11.7 h/day | 14.9 h | 41% | 68% |
| July | 85° | 68° | 13 | 4.3 in | 11.7 h/day | 14.7 h | 43% | 72% |
| August | 84° | 66° | 12 | 3.7 in | 11.2 h/day | 13.7 h | 39% | 72% |
| September | 80° | 62° | 8 | 3.2 in | 10.0 h/day | 12.4 h | 25% | 70% |
| October | 68° | 50° | 9 | 2.9 in | 8.3 h/day | 11.1 h | 29% | 69% |
| November | 54° | 38° | 9 | 3.1 in | 6.5 h/day | 10.0 h | 30% | 70% |
| December | 46° | 31° | 10 | 3.4 in | 5.1 h/day | 9.4 h | 34% | 73% |
Cincinnati month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Cincinnati's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 5.3 h
- Daylight
- 9.7 h
- Snow
- 3 days
February
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 6.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.7 h
- Snow
- 3 days
March
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 7.6 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
- Snow
- 1 day
April
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 8.9 h
- Daylight
- 13.2 h
May
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 14.3 h
June
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.9 h
July
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.7 h
August
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 11.2 h
- Daylight
- 13.7 h
September
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 8.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.1 h
November
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 6.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.0 h
December
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 5.1 h
- Daylight
- 9.4 h
- Snow
- 1 day
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Cincinnati
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Cincinnati stays on the cool side of mild: 64°F (18°C) by day, 45°F (7°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 39 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer sits firmly in the heat here - highs near 84°F (29°C), nights near 66°F (19°C), and rain falls on around 38 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.5 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Cincinnati is crisp but comfortable: 67°F (19°C) by day, 50°F (10°C) after dark, and expect showers on roughly 26 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter stays firmly cold here - highs near 44°F (7°C), nights near 28°F (-2°C), and rain falls on around 32 of the 90 days, plus about 7 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
What should I pack for Cincinnati?
How humid does Cincinnati get?
Does it freeze in Cincinnati?
How often does it rain in Cincinnati?
How sunny is Cincinnati?
Best time to visit Cincinnati
August to November and March is the sweet spot for Cincinnati - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 68°F (20°C) in the afternoon and around 10 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in August.
Pack for Cincinnati with light clothing for the warm months, a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and a compact umbrella or rain shell. July nights average 68°F (20°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Cincinnati temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.