Ohio gets about 4 inches of rainfall. Ice and snow are two of the major contributors to this. The northern part of the state gets about 10 to 15 inches of snow. The south receives about 4 to 8 inches. So if it’s a question of snow in Ohio, yes, it does snow.
So, if it snows in Ohio, when does it happen?
Snow happens in Ohio for about 3.6 months. It starts around the first week of December and ends around the end of March. There is a sliding liquid-equivalent snowfall for 31 days of about 0.1 inches.
Most of the snow falls around the end of the second week of February. It brings about an average total liquid-equivalent accumulation of about 0.3 inches.
The coldest winter nights in Ohio can drop down to as low as negative 18 degrees Celsius. It can even be below that. This happens mostly in the Cleveland areas. And this should happen around three nights every year.
From November to around March, Cleveland can even remain below zero all day. And in a year, the city can even have about 36 days of chilly weather. And when we say chilly weather, temperatures do not go above 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
During winters, Ohio is always very flaky. It is freezing. The Great Lakes of the region always see the coldest temperatures. This happens during the whole winter season.
This would, of course, come as no surprise that Cleveland gets a lot of snow. It is the snowiest city in the state of Ohio. But what about the others? Is there also a chance the other cities would get snow?
Looking at the numbers in the previous years, the city of Youngstown is in second place. This is another city that gets the most amount of snow aside from Cleveland. It comes with about 62.7 inches of snow on average per year. Compared to Cleveland, this is a bit lower. This is because Cleveland gets about 68.1 inches of snowfall per year.
Coming into third place is Parma with 55 inches per year. Fourth is Canton with 48 inches of snow. Then, there is Akron, with 47.5 inches of snow yearly.
In sixth place is Lorain with 43 inches, then Toledo with 37.6 inches. Columbus comes at number 8 with 26.7 inches of snowfall annually, then Dayton with 23.3 inches. In 10th place is Cincinnati, with 11.2 inches of snowfall per year.
Out of the major cities in Ohio, Cincinnati is the least snowy. It only has about 11.2 inches of snowfall on average yearly.
But if we look at the locations with smaller populations, the clear winner is Chardon. This area gets about 107 inches of snowfall per year. If you try to convert it, that will equate to about 9 feet (almost) of snow per year!
This is because most of the weather systems in the US move from the west to the east. This is no wonder because if one looks at Ohio geographically, Chardon is perfect for getting a lot of snow. It is east of the lake and is also located further north.
The longer the storm is moving from the east across the lake, the more moisture it brings with it. This only means that the easternmost part of the city gets more snow. This is because the more eastern it is, the greater the amount of moisture that produces snow.
As for the cases of Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati, all these are further south. The more south they are in location, the lesser the snowfall.
What should I pack to Ohio for winter?
Snow falls a lot in the state of Ohio during winter. It would be even hard to think of something fashionable to wear. If the goal is to be warm all throughout, one can easily go with fleece-lined leggings. Opaque tights would also do well in Ohio. Layering always works. So, bring a trench coat.
Winters in the state of Ohio have always been more of a challenge every year. When there are inches of snow outside your window, would you even dare get out of bed?
When in snowy Ohio, it would even be hard to think of something fashionable to wear. There are simply days that would make you question decisions whether to get out of bed or not.
Anyway, here are a few important things you need to have when visiting Ohio in winter.
A Good Enough Base Layer
This is perhaps one of the most important for you to bring during winter. The winters in Ohio can be too cold. This is something you don’t want to miss bringing.
Most of the time, locals wear a base layer about 95% of the time during winter. And this is even when they are indoors. Having a quality base layer really helps maintain that warmth.
Here are a few things to take note of:
Thermal Long Underwear
When you are so used to tropical climates, the closest underwear to keep yourself warm is a pair of long johns. And they’re not exactly the best option there is.
They can be uncomfortable. They can also be bulky and unflattering. This should be something that one can avoid.
Go with long thermal underwear for winter. This should keep you warm without being overly annoying.
Sunscreen
You see, one of the things we focus on during winter is how cold the weather is.
We rarely think that even during the cold, the sun is still out. And when the sun is out, it can be harsh to our skin. And we already know this. But even during cloudy days, we know the sun is out there somewhere.
This is why during winter, one needs to take sunscreen wherever one may be.
Even during winter, we need sunscreen to protect our skin from the harsh rays of the sun.
Sunscreen is something that you need when you visit Ohio during winter. Actually, no matter what season you visit, you need this. Be it summer, autumn, or winter.
Protect your skin. Put on as much sunscreen as possible whenever you go out into the sun.
You’re welcome!
Trench Coat
If there is something super important, it is a coat. And when we say coat, we mean trench coat.
You see, Ohio is that cold. No matter how fashionable you may be, it won’t be much if you are freezing cold.
Go layer your clothes. You would absolutely need that.
Make sure to bring a scarf as well. And don’t forget something to cover your head. We know this is too much, but then again, it’s winter. What can one expect?
Bring your gloves, too. You are going to need that when the cold gets colder.
Comfortable Shoes
Actually, no matter the season, one needs to have a comfortable pair of shoes. And mind you, this is not just something that you would need in Ohio.
You need a comfortable pair of shoes no matter where you go.
And this is the same in Ohio. Especially during winter, some surfaces may be slippery because of the snow and the rain. Make sure you have that covered.
And if you feel that you will be trudging through all that snow, go bring a pair of boots.
Sweater
Now, this may be something you would wear indoors. And naturally, yes. You cannot go out and just wear your sweater.
We would like you to bring your sweater. The reason is that when visiting, you would most likely go to bars and museums and shops as well. And if and when you visit these places, you need to take out all those layers of clothing.
This leaves you with a nice enough sweater.
It will not be too hot. But it will keep you warm.
Plus, it’s comfortable too!
What do I expect for winter in Ohio?
The state of Ohio is frigid during winter. It can also be flaky, with some parts becoming extremely cold.
Winter in Ohio starts from around the end of November until around the middle of March. But while it starts in December, the cold is not that much during this month. At least, it is not as cold as the next two months.
January and February are the coldest months of the year in Ohio. These two months are also the snowiest of the year.
In fact, during these two months, temperatures can drop to as low as negative 8 degrees Celsius. Sometimes, it can even go down to negative 17.
The southern part of the state is mostly warmer than the north. But even the south gets a temperature of about negative 5. And this is something they consider warm. Well, at least compared to the north, this is warmer.
Rainfall during these months is about 4 inches. But most of the precipitation comes from ice and snow. These are our major contributors.
The northern parts of the state get as much as 10 inches of snow. Sometimes it can even be more. The south gets about 4 to 8 inches of snow during this time.
Most of the time, especially in January, the skies remain cloudy. In fact, one can even consider the skies dark during this month. There is sunshine, alright. But most of the time, sunshine can be weak. Also, it does not last long. In January, the sun can shine for about 4 hours or less per day.
Because of the cold, bring warm winter coats. This is a must, especially when you are outdoors.
One should also note that heaters, by this time, run 24/7. This should be enough to provide everyone with the needed warmth.
Because there is not much tourist by this time of the year, locals can do outdoor activities. Some of these are fishing and ice skating.
And should you be a tourist that is not bothered by the cold, this is an ideal time to visit. Everything should be cheaper.
February
February is still cold in Ohio.
Temperatures can run anywhere from a -7 to a 9. The northern part still receives about 8 to 10 inches of snow. Compared to the south, this is still too much.
By this time of the year, the south receives about 3 to 5 inches of snow.
Areas that are mostly elevated get a lot of snow. Plus, these places are also the coldest around.
It is during these times when snowstorms are common in the state. This is because of the cold arctic air that reaches the center of Ohio.
Fog is also a common sight in winter in Ohio. The reason for this is because of the warm southerly air. It flows through the state and over the snow-covered lands.
Lake Erie, for example, is always an area covered with fog for most of the winter. You can also expect the conditions to be icy. The roads should be that and also slippery. This is due to the black ice.
Because it is still cold, one should make sure to keep warm. Warm coats and layered clothing are often recommended.
In fact, these are the types of clothes that one should wear even when going outside to go get something.
Expect the electricity bills to also rice. Heaters will also be up and running for most of the time to keep everyone comfortable.
For most tourists, January and February are not favorable months.
In fact, the state gets to welcome its tourists only during spring and summer. Autumn has lesser tourists. Winter has the least of all.
But if the cold is something that does not bother you much, Ohio is a beautiful place.
Winter is the perfect time to visit. This is because of the lesser number of tourists that come in.
Aside from that, everything will be cheaper. This is the best time for you to go on vacation without breaking the bank.
The cold doesn’t bother you? Go visit Ohio.