Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Columbus, Ohio Weather

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night. Day 43 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Columbus weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Columbus, OH
Sunday, August 2 at 12:01 PM
77
°
Mostly Clear
Feels like
80°
Humidity
70%
Wind
7 mph
Sunrise
2:31 AM
Sunset
4:44 PM
Columbus, OH
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastColumbus, OH: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 66 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit with a 27% chance of precipitation at 8 PM.
L 66°H 81°
Columbus, OH
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Aug 2
    Light Rain
    61%
    0.09″
    81°69°—
  2. Monday
    Aug 3
    Overcast
    —
    —
    83°66°+2°
  3. Tuesday
    Aug 4
    Overcast
    —
    —
    86°61°+3°
  4. Wednesday
    Aug 5
    Drizzle
    35%
    —
    89°71°+3°
  5. Thursday
    Aug 6
    Heavy Drizzle
    29%
    —
    91°70°+2°
  6. Friday
    Aug 7
    Light Drizzle
    53%
    —
    87°70°-4°
  7. Saturday
    Aug 8
    Thunderstorm
    35%
    —
    89°70°+2°
Columbus, OH
Next 24 hours · Mild now
62°73°84°12p6p12a6anow 77°high 81°low 66°PRECIP %
Columbus, OH
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSW
208° · veering 37°
Direction
SSW
208°
Sustained
7
mph
Gust
14
mph
Peak 24h
21
avg 6 mph
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 6 mph · pk 21 mph @ 3:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 229SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 37° from the ssw.
Columbus, OH
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
978.7
+1.1 mb in 3h · rising · 28.90 inHg
Now
978.7
mb
3h
+1.1
mb
12h
+1.6
mb
24h
-1.8
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 976–981
970975980985-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW980.5976.1978.7
The low is filling — pressure climbing out of storm territory.
Columbus, OH
Air quality
31
AQI
Good
→-4 in 6h▲Peak ~39 @ 10 PM

AQI 31 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±4 points). Ozone at AQI 38 now. With UV 4.7 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 17.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 10 PM.

PM 2.5Good
3.1μg/m³
PM 10Good
3μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERModerate
80μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
4.5

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 38 now. With UV 4.7 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 17.

Present
AQI 38
UV peak
4.7 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
partly cloudy
Projected peak
AQI 17

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³500
Columbus, OH
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
40%
MOSTLY CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
50.2mi
UNLIMITED
52 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
16:01 UTC · Columbus, OH · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
16:01 UTC · Columbus, OH · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Columbus, OH
Satellite · infrared · animated
Columbus, OH
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Columbus, OH
Almanac · Sunday, August 2
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Civil dawn
6:02 AM
Sunrise
2:31 AM
Daylight
14h 13m
Sunset
4:44 PM
Civil dusk
9:16 PM
Planting note
Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.
Columbus, OH
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
10:15 PM
Moonset
10:36 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Columbus, OH
Microseason
Aug 1–5

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night

celestial
Jan 159% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Columbus at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 14°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 16 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Aug 1–5
  • Planting window: Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.

ZIP codes: 43085, 43201, 43202, 43203, 43204, 43205, 43206, 43207 +23 more

16-Day Forecast — Columbus

  1. Sun81°69°61%
  2. Mon83°66°4%
  3. Tue86°61°4%
  4. Wed89°71°35%
  5. Thu91°70°29%
  6. Fri87°70°53%
  7. Sat89°70°35%
  8. Sun92°70°28%
  9. Mon94°76°31%
  10. Tue88°72°26%
  11. Wed91°69°26%
  12. Thu93°72°37%
  13. Fri94°75°32%
  14. Sat94°76°33%
  15. Sun89°72°23%
  16. Mon89°69°19%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Columbus

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of August 2, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Columbus

SPC includes Columbus in the general thunderstorm area today — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

Sun & seasons in Columbus

Columbus sits in Franklin County, where the year’s longest day runs 15h 1m of daylight and its shortest just 9h 20m — a swing of +5h 41m between the June and December solstices. Clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Cincinnati, the state’s largest city, lies about 100 miles to the SW. The nearest town Columbus tracks is Dayton, roughly 66 miles to the WSW.

Air quality in Columbus’s county has trended dirtier since 2020; its cleanest year on record was 2020 (median AQI 45). See the full air-quality history for Columbus.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · August 1–5

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night

Sunset slides back toward 8 PM; darkness creeps in, signaling summer's decline though heat persists.

Day 214 of 365 · Wedge 43 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

Columbus peaks at about 75°F in July and bottoms near 27°F in January; May brings the heaviest rain (4.2 inches) and October the least (2.6 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January27°3.1″18
February30°2.9″15
March40°4.0″18
April52°4.1″19
May61°4.2″18
June70°4.0″15
July75°3.4″16
August74°3.2″15
September68°2.6″13
October56°2.6″12
November42°3.0″15
December32°3.7″17

Regional context

Columbus swings from 27°F in January to 75°F in July (48°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Columbus runs about 40.7 inches on roughly 190 measurable days.

Columbus's precipitation spreads evenly: May peaks at 4.2 inches on 18.3 wet days, while October holds 2.6 inches over 11.9 — no month dominates Columbus's rain calendar. That even rhythm groups Columbus with places like Grandview Heights, OH, Bexley, OH and Marble Cliff, OH.

Columbus reaches its last hard frost near mid-April; that is the cue for kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Heat-demanding starts go out a fortnight on in Columbus, after the soil warms and cold snaps clear. Frost returns to Columbus near mid-November, ending the tender-crop season. Columbus's low ground holds frost later into spring than Columbus's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Grandview Heights, OH, Bexley, OH, Marble Cliff, OH, Upper Arlington, OH, Whitehall, OH.

Naturalist notes

Late April brings the return of chimney swifts to Columbus skies, their chattering calls marking the transition from spring to early summer.

Redbud trees typically bloom in early April, their purple-pink flowers appearing before the leaves unfurl.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Columbus?
In Columbus, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Columbus's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Columbus?
May is the wettest month in Columbus, about 4.2 inches on average; the year totals roughly 41 inches.
What is the warmest month in Columbus?
Columbus peaks in July, when the mean runs near 75°F.
What is the coldest month in Columbus?
January is Columbus's coldest month, averaging about 27°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Columbus?
Hardy spring crops go in near mid-April in Columbus; tender peppers and squash wait 10–14 days.
How many rainy days does Columbus get?
Columbus averages about 190 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Columbus?
Since January in Columbus averages 27°F, Columbus's USDA zone follows that floor — confirm it by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Columbus?
Columbus's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Columbus?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Columbus in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Columbus?
Current conditions for Columbus and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Columbus forecast updated?
The Columbus forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Columbus?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Columbus are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Columbus?
The next few days in Columbus's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

The humid subtropical climate of Columbus, Ohio carries typical Januarys near 27°F and Julys around 75°F — 48°F of seasonal travel.

Yearly precipitation in Columbus totals around 41 inches, spread over about 190 days of rain or snow.

Columbus sits at 40.0°N; that 48°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across Columbus.

All cities in Ohio →

Cincinnati, OH weather →

ZIP codes in Columbus

  • 43109
  • 43026
  • 43054
  • 43220
  • 43221
  • 43222
  • 43223
  • 43224
  • 43081
  • 43228
  • 43227
  • 43213
  • 43212
  • 43215
  • 43214
  • 43217
  • 43219
  • 43218
  • 43002
  • 43004
  • 43068
  • 43085
  • 43240
  • 43229
  • 43235
  • 43232
  • 43231
  • 43230
  • 43119
  • 43110
  • 43017
  • 43016
  • 43137
  • 43211
  • 43210
  • 43202
  • 43203
  • 43201
  • 43206
  • 43207
  • 43204
  • 43205
  • 43209
  • 43236
  • 43251
  • 43260
  • 43266
  • 43268
  • 43270
  • 43271
  • 43272
  • 43279
  • 43287
  • 43291

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.