Climateby Month

Columbus vs Cincinnati weather

Columbus, OH and Cincinnati, OH · 100 mi apart

July highs: 85°F in Columbus, 87°F in Cincinnati (Cincinnati is 2°F warmer). January highs: 37°F and 41°F (Cincinnati is 4°F warmer). Columbus has about 141 wet days a year, Cincinnati about 132. Muggy days: about 41 a year in Columbus, about 62 in Cincinnati. Snow: 28.2 in a year in Columbus, 23.3 in in Cincinnati.

Columbus, OH

20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 37°F (3°C), low 22°F (-6°C) 37° 22° February: normal high 41°F (5°C), low 24°F (-4°C) March: normal high 51°F (11°C), low 32°F (0°C) April: normal high 64°F (18°C), low 42°F (6°C) May: normal high 74°F (23°C), low 52°F (11°C) June: normal high 82°F (28°C), low 62°F (17°C) July: normal high 85°F (29°C), low 65°F (18°C) 85° 65° August: normal high 84°F (29°C), low 64°F (18°C) September: normal high 78°F (26°C), low 57°F (14°C) October: normal high 66°F (19°C), low 45°F (7°C) November: normal high 52°F (11°C), low 35°F (2°C) December: normal high 42°F (6°C), low 27°F (-3°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May

Cincinnati, OH

20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 41°F (5°C), low 24°F (-4°C) 41° 24° February: normal high 45°F (7°C), low 26°F (-3°C) March: normal high 55°F (13°C), low 33°F (1°C) April: normal high 67°F (19°C), low 43°F (6°C) May: normal high 75°F (24°C), low 53°F (12°C) June: normal high 83°F (28°C), low 61°F (16°C) July: normal high 87°F (31°C), low 65°F (18°C) 87° 65° August: normal high 86°F (30°C), low 64°F (18°C) September: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 56°F (13°C) October: normal high 68°F (20°C), low 44°F (7°C) November: normal high 55°F (13°C), low 34°F (1°C) December: normal high 45°F (7°C), low 28°F (-2°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: April, May, October

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Cincinnati (January high 41°F vs January high 37°F)
  • Less humid: Columbus (41 muggy days vs 62 muggy days)
  • Less snow: Cincinnati (23.3 in vs 28.2 in)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high ColumbusAvg high CincinnatiWet days ColumbusWet days Cincinnati
Winter (Dec-Feb)40°F43°F3932
Spring (Mar-May)63°F66°F4038
Summer (Jun-Aug)84°F85°F3233
Fall (Sep-Nov)65°F68°F2928

Side by side over a year

ColumbusCincinnati
Hot days (90°F+)2127
Freezing nights103102
Muggy days4162
Comfortable days8280
Precipitation41.6 in43.4 in
Snowfall28.2 in23.3 in
Frost dateslast Apr 18, first Oct 27last Apr 16, first Oct 25
Daylight in June / December15.0 h / 9.4 h14.9 h / 9.5 h
Best monthsMayApril, May, October

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh ColumbusHigh CincinnatiWet days ColumbusWet days Cincinnati
January37°F41°F1511
February41°F45°F1210
March51°F55°F1312
April64°F67°F1413
May74°F75°F1414
June82°F83°F1212
July85°F87°F1112
August84°F86°F1010
September78°F80°F99
October66°F68°F109
November52°F55°F1111
December42°F45°F1311

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Columbus, OH: temperature from Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport (USW00014821), 6.6 mi ENE of the city center; precipitation from Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport (USW00014821). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Cincinnati, OH: temperature from Cincinnati Lunken Airport (USW00093812), 5.2 mi E of the city center; precipitation from Cincinnati Lunken Airport (USW00093812). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.