Columbus, OH Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Columbus
Seasons are the whole story in Columbus. The gap between an average July and an average January is 25°C - hot, humid summers and generally mild winters - which in practice means 84°F (29°C) afternoons at one end of the calendar and 38°F (3°C) at the other.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 84°F (29°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 38°F (3°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 95°F (35°C) high · -19°F (-28°C) low
- Wettest month: June (13 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (11.8 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 12 days a year
- Months with freezing average lows: 3
- Average humidity: 71%
Temperatures through the year
Overnight lows average at or below freezing for 3 months, December through February. January sits at the other end of the year: 38°F (3°C) by day, 23°F (-5°C) at night. Warmth peaks in July: highs of 84°F (29°C), lows of 67°F (19°C). The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 95°F (35°C) and bottoms at -19°F (-28°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. Snow falls on roughly 12 days a year, mostly November through March.
Rain, sun and snow
Sunshine averages 8.5 hours a day over the year, peaking in July at 11.8 hours. June is the wettest month at 4.9 inches (124 mm) over 13 days; November is the driest. Between the average July and the average January lie 25°C, a wider spread than roughly 83% of the cities we track.
How Columbus compares
- Columbus sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 54°F (12°C) as an annual average, 47.1 inches (1196 mm) of precipitation and 8.5 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 | 38° | 23° | 11 | 3.6 in | 5.0 h/day | 9.6 h | 36% | 72% |
| February | 43° | 25° | 11 | 3.7 in | 6.5 h/day | 10.6 h | 38% | 70% |
| March | 52° | 33° | 12 | 4.5 in | 7.4 h/day | 11.8 h | 39% | 68% |
| April | 62° | 42° | 14 | 4.5 in | 9.0 h/day | 13.2 h | 45% | 67% |
| May | 73° | 54° | 14 | 4.5 in | 10.0 h/day | 14.4 h | 47% | 71% |
| June | 81° | 62° | 13 | 4.9 in | 11.7 h/day | 15.0 h | 44% | 70% |
| July | 84° | 67° | 13 | 4.6 in | 11.8 h/day | 14.7 h | 41% | 73% |
| August | 83° | 65° | 12 | 3.9 in | 11.1 h/day | 13.7 h | 40% | 73% |
| September | 79° | 60° | 9 | 3.2 in | 9.9 h/day | 12.4 h | 29% | 70% |
| October | 66° | 48° | 9 | 3.2 in | 8.0 h/day | 11.1 h | 30% | 71% |
| November | 52° | 36° | 8 | 3.1 in | 6.4 h/day | 9.9 h | 28% | 71% |
| December | 44° | 29° | 11 | 3.4 in | 4.9 h/day | 9.3 h | 36% | 75% |
Columbus month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Columbus's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 5.0 h
- Daylight
- 9.6 h
- Snow
- 4 days
February
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 6.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.6 h
- Snow
- 4 days
March
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 7.4 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
- Snow
- 2 days
April
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 9.0 h
- Daylight
- 13.2 h
May
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 14.4 h
June
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 15.0 h
July
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 11.8 h
- Daylight
- 14.7 h
August
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 11.1 h
- Daylight
- 13.7 h
September
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 9.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 8.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.1 h
November
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 6.4 h
- Daylight
- 9.9 h
December
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 4.9 h
- Daylight
- 9.3 h
- Snow
- 2 days
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Columbus
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Columbus is crisp but comfortable, with daytime highs averaging 62°F (17°C) and nights around 43°F (6°C); rain falls on around 40 of the 90 days, plus about 2 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer brings hot afternoons here - highs near 83°F (28°C), nights near 64°F (18°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)
Fall is crisp but comfortable here - highs near 66°F (19°C), nights near 48°F (9°C), and expect showers on roughly 26 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, Columbus stays firmly cold: 42°F (5°C) by day, 26°F (-3°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 33 of the 90 days, plus about 9 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
How many rainy days does Columbus get in a year?
When does Columbus drop below freezing?
How hot does Columbus get in summer?
How cold does Columbus get in winter?
Best time to visit Columbus
April to September is the sweet spot for Columbus - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 77°F (25°C) in the afternoon and around 12 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in April.
Pack for Columbus 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 67°F (19°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Columbus 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.