Forecasts on December 4th, 2007 called for a weak, fast-moving clipper to affect much of the Midwest, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and east to the Mid-Atlantic coast. Most forecasts in Ohio had the area south of I-80 down to just north of the Ohio River getting 1-3″ of snowfall, with a potential max of 2-4″ in south-central Ohio from Dayton to Chillicothe.
OHZ045-046-054>056-065-051015- UNION OH-DELAWARE-MADISON-FRANKLIN OH-LICKING-FAIRFIELD- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…MARYSVILLE…DELAWARE…LONDON… COLUMBUS…NEWARK…LANCASTER 355 PM EST TUE DEC 4 2007
…SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM EST WEDNESDAY…
.TONIGHT…FLURRIES WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW THIS EVENING…THEN SNOW LIKELY AFTER MIDNIGHT. SNOW LATE. SNOW ACCUMULATION AN INCH OR LESS. LOWS IN THE MID 20S. LIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS…BECOMING SOUTHEAST AFTER MIDNIGHT. CHANCE OF SNOW 100 PERCENT. .WEDNESDAY…SNOW IN THE MORNING…THEN SNOW LIKELY IN THE AFTERNOON. TOTAL ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 3 INCHES. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S. NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH…BECOMING NORTH 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF SNOW 100 PERCENT. .WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE EVENING…THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 15 TO 20. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH… DECREASING TO AROUND 5 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
Snowfall began in western Ohio at about 10pm and reached central Ohio by midnight on the 4th. It began as flurries and light snow showers but gradually increased in intensity overnight and into the morning of the 5th, becoming heavy at times. By the time that the snowfall ended around 2:30pm in the afternoon, 4-6″ covered most of central Ohio, with the heaviest accumulations right near the I-70 corridor. Another max of snow occurred along a Mansfield to Canton line where a general 4-6″ also occurred.
The night of the 5th-6th brought a cold night for most of Ohio as clear skies after the storm and snow-covered ground sent temperatures far below normal. Most areas saw temperatures in the single digits, and many even fell into the single digits below zero. For Columbus, the low of 9 was the second lowest temperature ever recorded for the 6th of December.
The NOAA temperature outlook for winter 2020-2021.
The Winter 2020-2021 Review is the latest edition in the series. Overall, December and February brought some of the worst winter weather Columbus had seen in several years. Meanwhile, January and March were unusually quiet. Temperatures through January were fairly to slightly above average, while February was well below normal. March and April provided little winter weather, and March had no snowfall whatsoever.
Let’s break the winter down.
December-February Only Average High: 37.8 42nd Coldest Average Low: 25.1 34th Warmest Mean: 31.4 42nd Warmest Precipitation: 6.72″ 38th Driest Snowfall: 24.7″ 31st Snowiest Average Daily Snow Depth: 1.0″ 15th Highest Largest Snowstorm: 5″ on 1/30-2/1/2021. This was a long-duration storm that moved only very slowly through the region. # of 32 or Below Highs: 28 22nd Most # of 32 or Below Lows: 79 10th Most # of Measurable Precipitation Days: 38 14th Fewest # of Measurable Snowfall Days: 23 14th Most
Overall, winter 2020-21 was somewhat average- not too cold, not too warm, not too wet, not too dry, not too snowy, but not snowless.
Entire Cold Season: October-April Average High: 51.2 15th Warmest Average Low: 33.6 22nd Warmest Mean: 42.4 15th Warmest Precipitation: 20.39″ 56th Wettest Snowfall: 27.8″ 43rd Snowiest Average Snow Depth: 0.4″ 5th Lowest Largest Snowstorm: 5″ on 1/30-2/1/2021 # of 32 or Below Highs: 28 18th Fewest # of 32 or Below Lows: 107 27th Most # of Measurable Precipitation Days: 76 11th Fewest # of Measurable Snowfall Days: 25 16th Fewest
The overall cold season was generally warm, but still managed to provide near normal to slight above normal snowfall for the region.
Average High By Month October 2020: 63.3 31st Coldest November 2020: 57.6 8th Warmest December 2020: 41.5 38th Warmest January 2021: 37.5 49th Warmest February 2021: 33.9 20th Coldest March 2021: 59.0 7th Warmest April 2021: 64.4 29th Warmest
Average Low By Month October 2020: 45.6 35th Warmest November 2020: 37.3 18th Warmest December 2020: 27.7 36th Warmest January 2021: 26.6 22nd Warmest February 2021: 20.4 35th Coldest March 2021: 34.7 27th Warmest April 2021: 42.0 35th Warmest
Mean By Month October 2020: 54.5 38th Coldest November 2020: 47.4 10th Warmest December 2020: 34.6 36th Warmest January 2021: 32.1 39th Warmest February 2021: 27.2 30th Coldest March 2021: 46.9 12th Warmest April 2021: 53.2 28th Warmest
Precipitation By Month October 2020: 4.19″ 16th Wettest November 2020: 3.35″ 45th Wettest December 2020: 2.24″ 44th Driest January 2021: 2.25″ 50th Driest February 2021: 2.23″ 64th Wettest March 2021: 2.85″ 54th Driest April 2021: 3.28″ 60th Wettest
Snowfall By Month October 2020: 0.0″ Tied for Least Snowy November 2020: 1.9″ 21st Least Snowy December 2020: 8.5″ 22nd Snowy January 2021: 4.1″ 29th Least Snowy February 2021: 12.1″ 15th Snowiest March 2021: 0.0″ Tied for Least Snowy April 2021: 1.2″ 14th Least Snowy
March’s lack of snowfall tied the record for the only time in history the month did not even have a trace of snowfall.
Average Snow Depth By Month October 2020: 0.0″ November 2020: 0.0″ December 2020: 0.7″ January 2021: 0.1″ February 2021: 2.4″ March 2021: 0.0″ April 2021: 0.0″
Maximum High By Month October 2020: 80 on the 22nd November 2020: 78 on the 8th and 10th December 2020: 63 on the 11th January 2021: 51 on the 1st February 2021: 60 on the 28th March 2021: 75 on March 24th April 2021: 83 on April 27th
Maximum High Records -78 on November 8th was a record high for the date, beating the old record of 74 set in 1945. -76 on November 9th tied the daily record high with 1975. -78 on November 10th was a record high for the date, beating the old record of 72 set in 1949.
Minimum High By Month October 2020: 48 on the 30th November 2020: 43 on the 18th December 2020: 18 on the 25th January 2021: 25 on the 28th February 2021: 23 on the 7th and 16th March 2021: 40 on the 15th April 2021: 37 o the 1st
Maximum Low By Month October 2020: 62 on the 11th November 2020: 55 on the 10th December 2020: 43 on the 12th January 2021: 37 on the 2nd February 2021: 43 on the 28th March 2021: 56 on the 11th April 2021: 65 on the 28th
Maximum Low Records -The 65 on April 28th tied the record set in 1914.
Minimum Low By Month October 2020: 30 on the 31st November 2020: 25 on the 18th December 2020: 13 on the 26th and 27th January 2021: 16 on the 23rd February 2021: 5 on the 17th March 2021: 19 on the 5th April 2021: 21 on the 2nd
Highest Daily Precipitation By Month October 2020: 1.25″ on the 29th November 2020: 0.89″ on the 25th December 2020: 0.74″ on the 30th January 2021: 1.04″ on the 1st February 2021: 0.76″ on the 28th March 2021: 1.12″ on the 18th April 2021: 1.88″ on the 29th
Precipitation Records -0.76″ on February 28th was the record for the date, beating the old record of 0.56″ set in 1954. -The 1.88″ on April 29th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 1.82″ set in 1996.
Highest Daily Snowfall By Month October 2020: 0.0″ November 2020: 1.9″ on the 30th December 2020: 3.4″ on the 24th January 2021: 2.3″ on the 31st February 2021: 2.3″ on the 1st March 2021: 0.0″ April 2021: 1.2″ on the 21st
Snowfall Records -2.8″ on December 16th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 1.8″ set in 1953. -3.4″ on December 24th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 2.7″ set in 1980.
Deepest Snow Depth By Month October 2020: 0″ November 2020: 0″ December2020: 4″ on the 26th January 2021: 3″ on the 31st February 2021: 5″ on the 18th-21st March 2021: 0.0″ April 2021: 1″ on the 21st
Much to the potential annoyance of many, parts of Ohio- including Columbus are predicted to see a late-season snowfall Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. As late as it may seem, Columbus has seen even later season snowfalls since 1878. Though rare, these events do happen, and have sometimes been significant.
The US weather map on the morning of May 21, 1883.
The absolute latest measurable snow occurred on May 21st, 1883, when 0.4″ fell. The amount was not impactful, but the date certainly was. People are normally thinking about summer by then, but instead got a nasty taste of winter. The present-day I-71 corridor in the state generally had had an inch or less- Cincinnati had upwards of 2″, with 3″ near Hamilton. However, areas just to the north and west were hammered with the heaviest May snow ever recorded.
An excerpt from the book “Thunder in the Heartland” by Thomas W. Schmidlin: “A drizzling rain on Monday morning, 21 May, turned to snow at 9AM, and the air was filled with large, damp flakes all day. The Sidney Journal reported that ‘though it thawed, it lay six inches deep on Tuesday morning.’ Considering that much of the snow melted as it fell, a total of fifteen to twenty inches was estimated for Sidney. Snow depts of ten inches were measured on the north side of buildings at Houston in Shelby County.”
The Columbus Dispatch reported that snow fell in every major city from Lancaster north and west. Crops and trees were damaged by the heavy, wet snow across Western Ohio during the event. Temperatures at most locations were at or above freezing during the snow, so it did not stick around long after. Just 3 days later, it hit 80 degrees in Columbus.
Dates of Measurable Snowfalls After April 15th 1. May 21, 1883: 0.4″ 2. May 9, 1923: 0.3″ 3. May 7, 1989: 0.8″ 4. April 30, 1908: 2.4″ 5. April 24, 2005: 3.0″ 6. April 22, 1893: 0.8″ 6. April 22, 1901: 0.1″ 7. April 21, 1934: 0.4″ 7. April 21, 1936: 0.2″ 7. April 21, 1953: 0.2″ 8. April 20, 1910: 2.4″ 8. April 20, 1962: 0.1″ 9. April 19, 1887: 0.1″ 9. April 19, 1907: 0.4″ 9. April 19, 1969: 0.5″ 9. April 19, 2019: 0.3″ 10. April 18, 1983: 0.1″ 10. April 18, 1984: 0.3″ 11. April 17, 1961: 1.0″ 11. April 17, 2001: 0.6″ 12. April 16, 1935: 0.4″ 12. April 16, 1956: 0.3″ 12. April 16, 1996: 0.1″
Trace amounts have occurred many additional times after April 15th, including into early May. Measurable snow, however, has only occurred 23 times after April 15th since 1878. So snow after that date has occurred roughly once out of every 6.2 years. That rate is not going to be matched this time, as measurable snow fell on April 19th last year. Snow is predicted sometime tomorrow night, the 20th. If it ends up being measurable, it would fall into the tie of 8th latest such ever recorded.
The Winter 2019-2020 Review has arrived! Aside some a few instances, winter was largely absent in Ohio for the 2019-2020 season. The season was bookended by periods of cold while the heart of winter was one of the warmest on record. Along with the warmth, precipitation was high throughout the season, but that didn’t translate into much snow.
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: 43.5 11th Warmest Average Low: 28.3 9th Warmest Mean: 35.9 10th Warmest Precipitation: 9.69″ 29th Wettest Snowfall: 8.3″ 16th Least Snowiest Average Daily Snow Depth: 0.1″ 2nd Lowest Largest Snowstorm: 2.2″ December 15th-16th 32 or Below Highs: 12 6th Fewest 32 or Below Lows: 65 13th Fewest Measurable Precipitation Days: 34 10th Fewest Measurable Snowfall Days: 13 9th Fewest Deepest Snow Depth: 2″ on February 9th Days with 1″+ Snow Depth: 5 3rd Fewest
Entire Cold Season- October-April Average High: 51.9 10th Warmest Average Low: 34.1 17th Warmest Mean: 43.0 11th Warmest Precipitation: 27.60″ 6th Wettest Snowfall: 11.7″ 18th Least Snowiest Average Snow Depth: 0.1″ 2nd Lowest Largest Snowstorm: 2.8″ November 11th-12th 32 or Below Highs: 14 4th Fewest 32 or Below Lows: 98 17th Fewest Measurable Precipitation Days: 87 18th Most Measurable Snowfall Days: 16 7th Fewest Deepest Snow Depth: 2″ on February 9th Days with 1″+ Snow Depth: 8 5th Fewest
Average High By Month October 2019: 69.8 13th Warmest November 2019: 47.3 21st Coldest December 2019: 45.9 12th Warmest January 2020: 43.3 16th Warmest February 2020: 41.2 35th Warmest March 2020: 55.4 18th Warmest April 2020: 59.6 21st Coldest
Average Low By Month October 2019: 47.0 26th Warmest November 2019: 30.3 9th Coldest December 2019: 28.8 28th Warmest January 2020: 30.1 8th Warmest February 2020: 25.9 35th Warmest March 2020: 37.6 13th Warmest April 2020: 38.7 16th Coldest
Mean By Month October 2019: 58.4 18th Warmest November 2019: 38.8 12th Coldest December 2019: 37.4 18th Warmest January 2020: 36.7 13th Warmest February 2020: 33.6 38th Warmest March 2020: 46.5 13th Warmest April 2020: 49.2 23rd Coldest
The 2019-2020 winter months were full of extremes, and most months ended up in either the top 20 coldest or warmest ever recorded.
Precipitation By Month October 2019: 4.05″ 19th Wettest November 2019: 1.48″ 24th Driest December 2019: 2.76″ 62nd Wettest January 2020: 4.37″ 25th Wettest February 2020: 2.56″ 54th Wettest March 2020: 8.16″ 2nd Wettest April 2020: 4.22″ 32nd Wettest
Snowfall By Month October 2019: Trace 2nd Least Snowiest November 2019: 2.8″ 22nd Snowiest December 2019: 2.3″ 23rd Least Snowiest January 2020: 0.3″ 3rd Least Snowiest February 2020: 5.7″ 47th Snowiest March 2020: 0.6″ 5th Least Snowiest April 2020: Trace 2nd Least Snowiest
As with temperature, precipitation and snowfall varied wildly as well, but generally most months were wetter than normal and less snowy than normal.
Average Snow Depth By Month October 2019: 0.0″ November 2019: 0.2″ December 2019: 0.1″ January 2020: Trace February 2020: 0.2″ March 2020: Trace April 2020: 0.0″
Maximum High By Month October: 94 on the 1st and 2nd November: 59 on the 27th December: 62 on the 27th January: 71 on the 11th February: 63 on the 3rd March: 76 on the 28th April: 77 on the 7th
Maximum High Records -The 94 on October 1st was a record for the date, beating the old record of 89 set in 1952. This is also the warmest October temperature ever recorded, beating the old October record of 91 set in 2007. -The 94 on October 2nd was a record for the date, beating the old record of 88 set in 1919. This also ties for the warmest October temperature ever, set on October 1st, 2019, the previous day. -The 93 on October 3rd was a record for the date, beating the old record of 89 set in 1898 and 1953. -The 71 on January 11th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 66 set in 1886 and 1890. -The 63 on February 3rd tied the old record set in 1890.
Minimum High By Month October: 55 on the 12th November: 28 on the 12th and 13th December: 29 on the 18th January: 28 on the 20th February: 24 on the 14th March: 38 on the 21st April: 45 on the 10th
Minimum High Records -The 28 on the 12th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 30 set in 1920.
Maximum Low By Month October: 68 on the 2nd November: 39 on the 21st and 27th December: 47 on the 9th and 29th January: 53 on the 11th February: 39 on the 25th March: 55 on the 29th April: 53 on the 8th
Maximum Low Records -The 45 on January 10th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 43 set in 1960.
Minimum Low By Month October: 35 on the 31st November: 11 on the 13th December: 13 on the 19th January: 12 on the 20th February: 13 on the 15th and 21st March: 19 on the 1st April: 26 on the 16th
Minimum Low Records -The 15 on November 12th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 16 set in 1911. -The 11 on November 13th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 14 set in 1911.
Highest Daily Precipitation By Month October: 1.51″ on the 31st November: 0.33″ on the 27th December: 1.20″ on the 29th January: 1.13″ on the 18th February: 0.57″ on the 12th March: 2.89″ on the 20th April: 0.66″ on the 7th
Precipitation Records -The 1.51″ on October 31st was a record for the date, beating the old record of 1.44″ set in 1932. -The 1.20″ on December 29th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 1.13″ set in 1915. -The 1.13″ on January 18th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 0.79″ set in 1927. -The 1.31″ on March 4th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 0.74″ set in 1951. -The 2.89″ that fell on March 20th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 1.60″ set in 1984.
Highest Daily Snowfall By Month October: Trace on the 31st November: 2.1″ on the 12th December: 1.5″ on the 15th January: 0.2″ on the 25th February: 1.8″ on the 8th March: 0.6″ on the 14th April: Trace on the 15th and 17th
Snowfall Records -The 2.1″ on November 11th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 0.5″ set in 1983.
Deepest Snow Depth By Month October: 0″ November: 3″ on the 12th December: 2″ on the 16th January: Trace on the 19th and 20th February: 2″ on the 29th March: Trace on the 15th April: 0″
The Winter 2018-2019 Review reveals the season was another one of extremes, with record highs and near record lows, snowy months and snowless months. The only real consistency was how wet it was.
Temperature and snowfall ranking data goes back to the winter of 1878-1879. Snow depth ranking data goes back to 1940. Rankings are accurate through the 2018-2019 winter.
December-February Only Average High: 41.4 22nd Warmest Average Low: 26.4 21st Warmest Mean: 33.8 24th Warmest Precipitation: 12.15″ 8th Wettest Snowfall: 23.3″ 35th Snowiest Average Daily Snow Depth: 0.5″ 32 or Below Highs: 22 16th Fewest 32 or Below Lows: 66 14th Fewest Measurable Precipitation Days: 43 10th Most Measurable Snowfall Days: 22 15th Most Deepest Snow Depth: 4″ on January 13th and 20th, February 1st and 2nd Days with 1″+ Snow Depth: 17 14th Fewest
Entire Cold Season- October-April Average High: 49.7 27th Warmest Average Low: 33.3 25th Warmest Mean: 41.5 23rd Warmest Precipitation: 29.33″ 3rd Wettest Snowfall: 27.4″ 44th Snowiest Average Snow Depth: 0.2″ 32 or Below Highs: 27 17th Fewest 32 or Below Lows: 106 25th Fewest Measurable Precipitation Days: 91 14th Most Measurable Snowfall Days: 29 16th Most Deepest Snow Depth: 4″ on January 13th and 20th, February 1st and 2nd Days with 1″+ Snow Depth: 20 13th Fewest
Average High By Month October 2018: 65.7 43rd Warmest November 2018: 45.2 8th Coldest December 2018: 44.1 21st Warmest January 2019: 36.6 48th Coldest February 2019: 43.4 25th Warmest March 2019: 47.5 36th Coldest April 2019: 65.4 21st Warmest
Average Low By Month October 2018: 47.2 25th Warmest November 2018: 33.2 28th Coldest December 2018: 30.6 15th Warmest January 2019: 22.2 47th Warmest February 2019: 26.3 33rd Warmest March 2019: 28.7 27th Coldest April 2019: 44.6 12th Warmest
Mean By Month October 2018: 56.5 28th Warmest November 2018: 39.2 14th Coldest December 2018: 37.3 18th Warmest January 2019: 29.4 51st Coldest February 2019: 34.8 30th Warmest March 2019: 38.1 34th Coldest April 2019: 55.0 14th Warmest
Precipitation By Month October 2018: 2.60″ 43rd Wettest November 2018: 5.70″ 4th Wettest December 2018: 3.57″ 30th Wettest January 2019: 3.09″ 47th Wettest February 2019: 5.49″ 6th Wettest March 2019: 5.33″ 15th Wettest April 2019: 3.55″ 54th Wettest
Snowfall By Month October 2018: 0.0″ November 2018: 2.1″ December 2018: 0.4″ January 2019: 11.3″ February 2019: 11.6″ March 2019: 2.0″ April 201: 0.0″
Average Daily Snow Depth By Month October 2018: 0.0″ November 2018: Trace December 2018: 0.0″ January 2019: 1″ February 2019: 0.5″ March 2019: 0.1″ April 2019: 0.0″
Maximum High By Month October: 88 on the 6th and 8th November: 61 on the 1st December: 66 on the 2nd January: 62 on the 8th February: 62 on the 7th March: 75 on the 14th April: 82 on the 11th
Maximum High Records -The 62 on February 7th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 61 set in 1925.
Minimum High By Month October: 49 on the 21st November: 30 on the 28th December: 28 on the 8th January: 11 on the 31st February: 22 on the 1st March: 20 on the 5th April: 43 on the 1st
Minimum High Records -The 33 on November 14th tied the record set in 2014. -The 20 on March 5th tied the record set in 1890.
Maximum Low By Month October: 69 on the 2nd and 9th November: 50 on the 5th December: 46 on the 15th January: 41 on the 8th February: 43 on the 6th March: 51 on the 14th and 29th April: 64 on the 18th
Maximum Low Records -The 69 on October 2nd was a record for the date, beating the old record of 68 set in 1881 and 1884. -The 68 on October 8th tied the record for the date set in 1879. -The 69 on October 9th tied the record for the date set in 1879. -The 68 on October 10th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 66 set in 1879. -The 43 on February 6th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 42 set in 1991. -The 64 on April 18th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 63 set in 1941.
Minimum Low By Month October: 32 on the 22nd and 25th November: 22 on the 10th and 11th December: 16 on the 10th January: -4 on the 30th and 31st February: 9 on the 2nd March: 7 on the 5th April: 24 on the 1st
Highest Daily Precipitation By Month October: 0.63″ on the 31st November: 1.80″ on the 1st December: 1.01″ on the 31st January: 0.81″ on the 19th February: 1.22″ on the 20th March: 1.97″ on the 30th April: 0.77″ on the 19th
Precipitation Records -The 1.80″ on November 2nd was a record for the date, beating the old record of 1.45″ set in 1984. -The 1.01″ on December 31st was a record for the date, beating the old record of 0.89″ set in 1887. -The 0.91″ on February 12th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 0.77″ in 1930. -The 1.97″ on March 30th was a record for the date, beating the old record of 1.47″ set in 1987.
Highest Daily Snowfall By Month October: 0.0″ November: 1.3″ on the 15th December: 0.2″ on the 5th January: 4″ on the 12th February: 4.2″ on the 1st March: 1.9″ on the 3rd April: 0.0″
Deepest Snow Depth By Month October: 0″ November: 1″ December: 0″ January: 4″ on the 13th and 20th February: 4″ on the 1st and 2nd March: 2″ on the 1st April: 0″
Overall, the winter of 2018-2019, while having a few cold spells, was largely warmer than normal. It was also wet and had snowfall near normal.
