In Week in Review 2, we find that the FBI has finally released the full crime numbers for 2017 for all cities. How did Columbus fare? Well, it was a decidedly mixed bag. Total murders were their highest ever, at 143, but the rate fell quite short of the record set back in 1991. So far for 2018, murder is behind 2017’s rate by about 22%, so it’s a good improvement, but still not even close to where it should be.
Other violent crime figures 2016 to 2017 -Rape continued its multi-year rise in the city, reaching 919 incidents. This was a 6% increase over 2016. -Assaults were up 4% over 2016, but in the context of still being one of the lowest totals in the past 30 years. -Robberies were down almost 8.5% over 2016. -Despite the rises in most types of violent crime, the drop in robberies meant overall violent crime dropped by about 0.5%. Property crime figures 2016 to 2017 -Burglaries were down more than 8%. -Larceny thefts were down about 2.9% -Motor vehicle thefts were up 17.6%, so not a good trend, but still less than half the rate it was 15-20 years ago. -Overall property crime was down about 2% versus 2016.
And if you think this year’s been particularly wet, you are right! Through October 1st, Columbus is having its 3rd wettest year on record. Only 1882 and 1890 are ahead of 2018 at this point, and by barely 1″. 2018 at this point is running almost 14″ above normal. Top 10 Wettest Years Through October 1st 1. 1882: 44.55″ 2. 1890: 43.56″ 3. 2018: 43.31″ 4. 1979: 42.17″ 5. 2003: 41.58″ 6. 2011: 41.12″ 7. 1990: 39.10″ 8. 1949: 38.54″ 9. 2004: 38.46″ 10. 1996: 37.46″ It is surprising how many recent years are on this list. Still with 3 months to go, the pattern could break, but it’s very unlikely that 2018 doesn’t end up in the top 10. Here are the top 10 wettest full years. 1. 2011: 54.96″ 2. 1990: 53.16″ 3. 1882: 51.30″ 4. 1890: 50.73″ 5. 2004: 49.27″ 6. 1979: 49.17″ 7. 2003: 49.03″ 8. 1883: 48.88″ 9. 1881: 46.99″ 10. 2017: 46.61″
Wind and heavy snow on the evening of January 12, 2018.
The Winter 2017-2018 Review shows the season featured some wild swings, from a very cold late December-early January to one of the warmest Februaries of all time. Let’s take a closer look at this volatile season, specifically December to February.
Temperature and snowfall ranking data goes back to the winter of 1878-1879. Snow depth ranking data goes back to 1940.
December-February Only Average High: 40.2 29th Warmest Average Low: 24.2 42nd Warmest Mean: 32.2 36th Warmest Precipitation: 9.40″ 33rd Wettest Snowfall: 24.6″ 32nd Snowiest Average Daily Snow Depth: 0.7″ 8th Lowest 32 or Below Highs: 29 21st Most 32 or Below Lows: 70 18th Fewest Measurable Precipitation Days: 40 Measurable Snowfall Days: 20 Deepest Snow Depth: 5″ on January 16th and 17th Days with 1″+ Snow Depth: 26 19th Most
Entire Cold Season: October-April Average High: 49.6 29th Warmest Average Low: 32.0 36th Coldest Mean: 40.8 30th Warmest Precipitation: 25.83″ 13th Wettest Snowfall: 30.7″ 34th Snowiest Average Snow Depth: 0.3″ 4th Lowest 32 or Below Highs: 29 19th Fewest 32 or Below Lows: 119 14th Most Measurable Precipitation Days: 87 18th Most Measurable Snowfall Days: 34 11th Most Deepest Snow Depth: 5″ on January 16th and 17th Days with 1″+ Snow Depth: 31 20th Most
Average High By Month October 2017: 68.5 21st Warmest November 2017: 52.5 33rd Warmest December 2017: 38.6 36th Coldest January 2018: 35.4 39th Coldest February 2018: 47.3 7th Warmest March 2018: 47.5 36th Coldest April 2018: 58.0 14th Coldest
Average Low By Month October 2017: 48.8 15th Warmest November 2017: 34.8 38th Warmest December 2017: 23.7 33rd Coldest January 2018: 19.3 39th Coldest February 2018: 30.3 9th Warmest March 2018: 29.6 33rd Coldest April 2018: 37.5 9th Coldest
Mean By Month October 2017: 58.6 16th Warmest November 2017: 43.6 32nd Warmest December 2017: 31.2 37th Coldest January 2018: 27.3 39th Coldest February 2018: 38.8 7th Warmest March 2018: 38.5 36th Coldest April 2018: 47.7 12th Coldest
Precipitation By Month October 2017: 3.57″ 28th Wettest November 2017: 4.67″ 15th Wettest December 2017: 1.76″ 28th Driest January 2018: 2.39″ 64th Wettest February 2018: 5.25″ 8th Wettest March 2018: 2.96″ 57th Driest April 2018: 5.23″ 15th Wettest
Snowfall By Month October 2017: Trace 2nd Least Snowy November 2017: Trace 2nd Least Snowy December 2017: 8.1″ 23rd Snowiest January 2018: 10.5″ 38th Snowiest February 2018: 6.0″ 45th Snowiest March 2018: 3.2″ 48th Least Snowy April 2018: 2.9″ 8th Snowiest
Average Snow Depth By Month October 2017: 0″ 1st Lowest November 2017: 0″ 1st Lowest December 2017: 0.3″ 4th Lowest January 2018: 1.4″ 15th Lowest February 2018: 0.4″ 5th Lowest March 2018: 0.1″ 2nd Lowest April 2018: 0.1″ 2nd Lowest
Maximum High By Month October 2017: 86 on the 4th November 2017: 73 on the 5th December 2017: 60 on the 4th January 2018: 60 on the 11th and 22nd February 2018: 77 on the 20th March 2018: 61 on the 19th and 29th April 2018: 82 on the 13th
Record Highs -The 77 on February 20th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 68 set in 1891 and 2016.
Minimum High By Month October 2017: 43 on the 28th November 2017: 35 on the 10th December 2017: 17 on the 27th January 2018: 10 on the 2nd February 2018: 22 on the 2nd March 2018: 33 on the 8th April 2018: 37 on the 17th
Minimum High Records -The 10 on January 2nd was a record for the date, beating the old record of 11 set in 1928. -The 37 on April 17th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 39 set in 1907.
Maximum Low By Month October 2017: 66 on the 7th November 2017: 60 on the 5th December 2017: 47 on the 22nd January 2018: 52 on the 11th February 2018: 60 on the 20th March 2018: 51 on the 28th April 2018: 63 on the 13th
Record Maximum Lows -The 47 on December 22nd tied the record set in 2015, and ties for the warmest December low on record. -The 55 on February 15th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 53 set in 1954. -The 60 on February 20th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 49 set in 1930. -The 63 on April 13th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 61 set in 1916.
Minimum Low By Month October 2017: 31 on the 26th November 2017: 21 on the 11th December 2017: 2 on the 31st January 2018: -4 on the 2nd February 2018: 10 on the 5th March 2018: 20 on the 10th April 2018: 25 on the 8th
Highest Daily Precipitation By Month October 2017: 1.14″ on the 8th November 2017: 1.72″ on the 5th December 2017: 0.72″ on the 23rd January 2018: 0.66″ on the 12th February 2018: 1.23″ on the 24th March 2018: 0.83″ on the 1st April 2018: 2.06″ on the 15th
Precipitation Records -The 1.14″ on the October 8th was the record for the date, beating the old record of 0.92″ set in 1959. -The 1.72″ on November 5th was the record for the date, beating the old record of 0.88″ set in 1988. -The 1.95″ on April 3rd was a record for the date, beating the old record of 1.50″ set in 2000. -The 2.06″ on April 15th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 1.46″ set in 1939.
Highest Daily Snowfall By Month October 2017: Trace on the 28th November 2017: Trace on the 22nd December 2017: 2.1″ on the 30th January 2018: 3.5″ on the 12th February 2018: 4.4″ on the 7th March 2018: 0.9″ on the 21st April 2018: 0.9″ on the 1st
Snowfall Records -The 4.4″ on February 7th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 3.6″ set in 1895. -The 0.9″ on March 21st was a record for the date, beating the old record of 0.8″ set in 1984.
Deepest Snow Depth By Month October 2017: 0″ November 2017: 0″ December 2017: 3″ on the 30th and 31st January 2018: 5″ on the 16th and 17th February 2018: 4″ on the 7th March 2018: 1″ on the 8th, 14th and 21st April 2018: 1″ on the 2nd and 7th
So overall, the winter was definitely warmer than normal, but not record-breaking, even with the extremely warm February. It was also wetter and snowier than normal as well.
