I have been doing immediate, post-winter reviews since I began this website 13 years ago. While those posts are popular, I get tons of requests and searches for winters of decades past, so I thought it might be a good idea to periodically take a look back at some of them. By far, the winter of 1995-1996 has been at the top of the list from site visitors, so it makes sense to make it the inaugural winter of this series.
Winter 1995-1996 was the most severe of the 1990s, and arguably the most severe winter between 1984-1985 and 2002-2003. The winter featured much above normal snowfall and below normal temperatures that included one arctic outbreak. This winter set multiple records that still stand today, and is regarded as one of the worst winters in Columbus- and Ohio- history.
December-February
These are the statistics for the heart of Winter 1995-1996, as well as departures from average based on the current 1991-2020 normals.
Average High: 36.9 (-2.9)
Average Low: 21.1 (-3.4)
Mean: 29.0 (-3.2)
Coldest High: 6 on February 3rd
Coldest Low: -3 on February 4th
Coldest Mean: 3 on February 3rd and 4th
# of 32 or Below Highs: 41
# of 32 or Below Lows: 73
Warmest High: 71 on February 27th
Warmest Low: 57 on January 4th
Warmest Mean: 64 on February 21st
Precipitation: 7.84″ (+0.70″)
Snowfall: 40.6″ (+18.4″)
Average Daily Snow Depth: 1.8″
Maximum Snow Depth: 12″ on January 8th
Largest Snowstorm: 9.8″ on January 6th-7th
1″+ Snowfall Events: 14
# of Measurable Precipitation Days: 45
# of Measurable Snowfall Days: 35
Highest Average Daily Wind Speed in MPH: 20 on January 27th
Highest Wind Gust in MPH: 51 on February 24th
Entire Cold Season: October-April
Average High: 47.1
Average Low: 29.1
Mean: 38.1
Precipitation: 24.14″
Snowfall: 54.1″
Average Snow Depth: 0.8″
Largest Snowstorm: 9.8″ on January 6th-7th
# of 32 or Below Highs: 46
# of 32 or Below Lows: 127
# of Measurable Precipitation Days: 92
# of Measurable Snowfall Days: 49
Highest Average Daily Wind Speed in MPH: 21.6 on March 25th
Highest Wind Gust in MPH: 58 on April 29th
Temperature
High Temperature Records Set
On December 14th, the high reached 65 degrees, tying the record for the date set in 1901.
On January 18th, the high reached 68 degrees, breaking the old record of 67 set in 1929.
On February 3, the high only reached 6 degrees, breaking the old low maximum of 12 set in 1902.
On February 27th, the high reached 71 degrees, tying the old record of 71 set in 1896.
Low Temperature Records Set
On November 9th, the low fell to 17 degrees, breaking the old record of 18 set in 1991.
Precipitation
Precipitation Records Set
On January 27th, 1.00″ of precipitation fell, breaking the old record of 0.97″ set in 1913.
On November 11th, 1.03″ of precipitation fell, breaking the old record of 0.84″ set in 1974. This record was later surpassed for the date when 1.14″ fell in 2022.
On December 19th, 0.68″ of precipitation fell, breaking the old record of 0.59″ set in 1982. This record was later surpassed for the date with 08.4″ in 2002 and later with 1.74″ in 2008.
On April 29th, 1.82″ of precipitation fell, breaking the old record of 1.37″ set in 1893. This record was later surpassed for the date when 1.88″ fell in 2021.
Snowfall
Snowfall Records Set
On November 21st, 1.9″ of snow fell, breaking the old record of 1.0″ set in 1911.
On December 19th, 4.3″ of snow fell, breaking the old record of 3.2″ set in 1948.
On January 7th, 8.8″ of snow fell, breaking the old record of 5.5″ set in 1979. This occurred during the Blizzard of 1996
On January 9th, 3.1″ of snow fell, breaking the old record of 2.7″ set in 1943.
On March 7th, 2.3″ of snow fell, tying the old record set in 1911. This record was later surpassed when 5.0″ fell in 2008.
On March 20th, 3.9″ of snow fell, breaking the old record of 3.0″ set in 1967.
Other
If you are interested in seeing original weather advisories for the entire 1995-1996 winter, the Winter 1995-1996 Weather Advisories provides them.
