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Weather & Climate in Columbus, OH
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Columbus experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 37°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 271 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 43.5 inches. The area receives 8.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 801 feet.
Temperature
37°F Jan (3°C)
75°F Jul (24°C)
| Annual Average | 54.6°F |
| 1% above US avg | |
| January Average | 37°F (3°C) |
| July Average | 75°F (24°C) |
| Sunny Days | 271 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 801 ft (244 m) |
| Area | 223.1 sq mi (577.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 4,092/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 39.9839°N, 82.9849°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Fairfield County County |
| Nearest Airport | John Glenn Columbus International (CMH) 5 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 72.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 16.0 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 86.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
23 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.6.
| Feb 19, 1995 | 8 km SSE of Rocky Fork Point, Ohio | M3.6 | 105 km | 10 km |
| Nov 20, 2013 | 2 km SW of Buchtel, Ohio | M3.5 | 90 km | 8 km |
| May 24, 2017 | 1 km S of McArthur, Ohio | M3.4 | 95 km | 10 km |
| Apr 24, 2009 | 7 km ENE of Rio Grande, Ohio | M3.4 | 134 km | 8 km |
| Jun 3, 2017 | 1 km WNW of Batesville, Ohio | M3.4 | 144 km | 2 km |
| Apr 22, 2025 | 3 km ESE of Buffalo, Ohio | M3.1 | 128 km | 5 km |
| Feb 3, 2025 | 2 km NNW of Oak Hill, Ohio | M3.1 | 123 km | 26 km |
| Apr 24, 2025 | 3 km S of Pleasant City, Ohio | M3.1 | 123 km | 6 km |
| Aug 31, 2011 | 3 km SE of Lowell, Ohio | M3.1 | 140 km | 5 km |
| Jun 5, 2011 | 5 km W of Lodi, Ohio | M3.0 | 139 km | 5 km |
| Apr 25, 2020 | 2 km SE of South Shore, Kentucky | M2.9 | 142 km | 27 km |
| Apr 4, 1994 | 2 km WNW of Minster, Ohio | M2.9 | 129 km | 5 km |
| May 9, 2025 | 3 km S of Pleasant City, Ohio | M2.9 | 124 km | 5 km |
| May 12, 2006 | 2 km E of Lima, Ohio | M2.8 | 125 km | 5 km |
| Apr 29, 2025 | 1 km SE of Pleasant City, Ohio | M2.8 | 125 km | 2 km |
| May 6, 2002 | 3 km SE of Racine, Ohio | M2.8 | 149 km | 5 km |
| Nov 25, 1998 | 1 km SSW of New London, Ohio | M2.7 | 130 km | 5 km |
| Mar 8, 2016 | 0 km N of Thurman, Ohio | M2.6 | 129 km | 20 km |
| Feb 11, 2015 | 8 km SE of Richmond Dale, Ohio | M2.6 | 95 km | 20 km |
| Mar 20, 2023 | 13 km SSW of Rio Grande, Ohio | M2.5 | 147 km | 6 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
390 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 48 fatalities, 1,632 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 3, 1974 | EF5 | 99 km | 31.3 mi | 36 |
| Sep 20, 2000 | EF4 | 93 km | 9.0 mi | 1 |
| May 27, 2019 | EF3 | 99 km | 9.9 mi | 0 |
| May 14, 2014 | EF3 | 81 km | 8.9 mi | 0 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | EF3 | 63 km | 9.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 13, 1999 | EF3 | 43 km | 3.6 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 1985 | EF3 | 31 km | 29.0 mi | 1 |
| Jun 13, 1981 | EF3 | 58 km | 3.8 mi | 4 |
| May 10, 1973 | EF3 | 77 km | 89.6 mi | 0 |
| May 24, 1971 | EF3 | 97 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Feb 22, 1971 | EF3 | 5 km | 6.8 mi | 0 |
| Sep 3, 1970 | EF3 | 37 km | 2.3 mi | 0 |
| Nov 16, 1965 | EF3 | 69 km | 3.8 mi | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2024 | EF2 | 74 km | 1.3 mi | 0 |
| Mar 14, 2024 | EF2 | 63 km | 19.5 mi | 0 |
| Feb 28, 2024 | EF2 | 15 km | 14.0 mi | 0 |
| Feb 28, 2024 | EF2 | 71 km | 21.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 8, 2022 | EF2 | 71 km | 9.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 15, 2021 | EF2 | 77 km | 0.9 mi | 0 |
| May 27, 2019 | EF2 | 57 km | 5.3 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950-2024, US only).
Wildfire History
4 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: LONG RIDGE RX UNIT 37-38 (1,050 acres, 2022).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2022 | LONG RIDGE RX UNIT 37-38 | 1,050 | 92 km |
| 2021 | LONG RIDGE RX UNIT 1-12 | 1,037 | 88 km |
| 2022 | LONG RIDGE RX UNIT 11-19 | 936 | 88 km |
| 2022 | LONG RIDGE RX UNIT 24 | 709 | 95 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37°F (3°C) | 2.3 in | |
| February | 31°F (-0°C) | 2.1 in | Coldest, Driest |
| March | 41°F (5°C) | 3.0 in | |
| April | 51°F (11°C) | 3.4 in | |
| May | 62°F (17°C) | 4.1 in | |
| June | 71°F (22°C) | 3.9 in | |
| July | 75°F (24°C) | 4.3 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 3.7 in | |
| September | 66°F (19°C) | 3.0 in | |
| October | 54°F (12°C) | 2.4 in | |
| November | 43°F (6°C) | 3.2 in | |
| December | 33°F (1°C) | 2.8 in |
Columbus has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 31°F in February to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 38.1 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (2.1").