What should you know about Columbus's weather?
- NWS office
- Wilmington (ILN)
- Climate
- Hot-summer humid continental
- Time zone
- EST/EDT
- Elevation
- 780 ft
- Coordinates
- 39.96° N, 83.00° W
- Nearest radar
- KILN · Cincinnati NEXRAD · 58 mi
- County
- Franklin County, OH
- Yearly rain
- 41.6 in
- Warmest month
- July · 75.4°F average
- Coldest month
- January · 29.6°F average
- Severe storm peak
- May to Jul
How much rain does Columbus get each month?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 37.1 | 40.8 | 51.1 | 64.1 | 74.1 | 82.2 | 85.4 | 84.1 | 77.8 | 65.5 | 52.3 | 41.5 |
| Low °F | 22.0 | 24.2 | 32.0 | 42.2 | 52.4 | 61.6 | 65.4 | 63.9 | 56.5 | 44.8 | 35.0 | 27.4 |
| Rain (in) | 3.00 | 2.41 | 3.62 | 3.85 | 3.99 | 4.33 | 4.67 | 3.74 | 3.14 | 2.90 | 2.79 | 3.13 |
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37.1 | 22.0 | 3.00 |
| Feb | 40.8 | 24.2 | 2.41 |
| Mar | 51.1 | 32.0 | 3.62 |
| Apr | 64.1 | 42.2 | 3.85 |
| May | 74.1 | 52.4 | 3.99 |
| Jun | 82.2 | 61.6 | 4.33 |
| Jul | 85.4 | 65.4 | 4.67 |
| Aug | 84.1 | 63.9 | 3.74 |
| Sep | 77.8 | 56.5 | 3.14 |
| Oct | 65.5 | 44.8 | 2.90 |
| Nov | 52.3 | 35.0 | 2.79 |
| Dec | 41.5 | 27.4 | 3.13 |
COLUMBUS PORT COLUMBUS INTL AP, OH US · 7 mi away · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020
What does a derecho look like on the Columbus weather radar?
A derecho usually shows up as a squall line or a large bow echo that travels hundreds of miles. On June 29, 2012, one entered the NWS Wilmington area around 3:15 PM and left it by 7:00 PM, moving at an average forward speed in excess of 60 mph. Airport sensors recorded an 82 mph gust at the Ohio State airport in Columbus and a 72 mph gust at the Columbus airport. Across all 10 states and Washington, D.C. the storm killed 13 people and left an estimated 4 million customers without power for up to a week.
How did the 1913 flood hit Columbus?
The Scioto River at Columbus crested at 22.9 feet at noon on March 25, 1913. That was only 1.6 feet above the previous high of 21.3 feet, set on March 23, 1898. At Chillicothe the Scioto crested at 37.8 feet, 9.5 feet above its previous high. NWS Wilmington calls the 1913 flood the deadliest disaster in both Ohio and Indiana.
What happened in Columbus during the Blizzard of 1978?
On January 26, 1978, wind gusts at Columbus reached 69 mph and the pressure fell to 28.46 inches of mercury, a new record low for the station. Official snowfall in Columbus from January 25 to 27 was only 4.7 inches, but the wind built drifts as high as 15 to 25 feet in the region. The storm killed 51 people in Ohio. The entire Ohio Turnpike closed for the first time in its history.
Does Columbus get ice storms?
Yes. In the February 13 to 14, 2007 storm, areas from Dayton to Columbus got several inches of sleet on top of snow, which later turned to freezing rain with up to a quarter inch of ice on trees and power lines. South of Columbus the temperature never warmed above freezing, and ice built up to between a half inch and an inch. The January 31 to February 2, 2011 storm also brought significant ice accumulations to central Ohio.
How much snow falls in Columbus?
Columbus gets 28.2 inches in a normal year, based on 1991 to 2020 data from the Port Columbus airport station. Most of it comes in January, which has a normal of 9.5 inches. In a typical winter the station records 8.8 days with at least 1 inch of new snow and 26.5 days with at least 1 inch on the ground.
When should you check the Columbus radar?
Severe storm season
May to JulyAbout 55% of Franklin County's 1996 to 2025 severe reports fall in these months. Walkers and cyclists on the Scioto Mile check the loop before heading downtown on summer evenings.
Freeze season
October 27 to April 18NWS Wilmington lists these as the normal first fall and average last spring 32°F dates at Columbus (KCMH) for 1991 to 2020. Frost does not show up on radar, so growers near Franklin Park check the hourly low.
What else do people ask about the Columbus radar?
Which NWS office and radar cover Columbus?
NWS Wilmington (ILN) issues forecasts and warnings for Columbus. The nearest NEXRAD radar is KILN, about 58 miles from the city center.
How often does the radar on this page update?
The radar loop on this page updates every 5 minutes.
Is this page an official warning service?
No. It shows radar and forecasts only. For warnings, follow NWS Wilmington and local emergency alerts.
Quick facts
- Radar: KILN (Cincinnati NEXRAD), a new frame every 5 minutes
- Forecasts and warnings: NWS Wilmington (ILN)
- Severe storms peak from May to July (NOAA Storm Events, 1996 to 2025)
- Local time: EST/EDT
- Radar: KILN, a new frame every 5 minutes
- Warnings: NWS Wilmington (ILN)
- Severe storms: May to July
- Local time: EST/EDT
Where does this data come from?
- NOAA NEXRAD radar via Iowa Environmental Mesonet
- National Weather Service, Wilmington office
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020: COLUMBUS PORT COLUMBUS INTL AP, OH US
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to 2025
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service
- GOES-East satellite imagery
- Open-Meteo forecast API
- OpenStreetMap contributors
- NWS Wilmington: June 29, 2012 derecho
- National Weather Service assessment: The historic derecho of June 29, 2012
- USGS Water-Supply Paper 334: The Ohio Valley flood of March to April 1913
- NWS Wilmington: The Great Blizzard of 1978
- NWS Wilmington: February 13 to 14, 2007 winter storm
- NWS Wilmington: January 31 to February 2, 2011 winter storm
- NOAA NCEI: 1991 to 2020 annual normals, Port Columbus airport (USW00014821)
- NOAA NCEI: 1991 to 2020 monthly normals, Port Columbus airport (USW00014821)
- NWS Wilmington: Fall frost and freeze climatology
- NWS Wilmington: Spring frost and freeze climatology