Columbus, Ohio Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 76 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Columbus weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 3Clear——81°50°—
- ThursdayJun 4Overcast——85°57°+4°
- FridayJun 5Overcast——83°60°-2°
- SaturdayJun 6Light Showers77%—81°66°-2°
- SundayJun 7Light Showers77%—80°67°-1°
- MondayJun 8Overcast——85°63°+5°
- TuesdayJun 9Light Drizzle15%—83°68°-2°
Ozone at AQI 45 now. AQI up 30 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. With UV 0.4 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 8 by mid-afternoon.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 45 now. With UV 0.4 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 8 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 45
- UV peak
- 0.4 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- partly cloudy
- Projected peak
- AQI 8
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).
The higher the clouds, the finer the weather.
- Moonrise
- 3:23 AM
- Moonset
- 12:29 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Columbus at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 5°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 16 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 3, 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.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Columbus's warmest temperatures (~75°F mean) while January delivers the coldest (~29°F). Rainfall reaches its peak in May (4.8 inches) and hits its lowest point in February (2.6 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 3.1″ | 7 |
| February | 31° | 2.6″ | 9 |
| March | 41° | 3.9″ | 8 |
| April | 53° | 4.0″ | 9 |
| May | 63° | 4.8″ | 10 |
| June | 72° | 4.7″ | 9 |
| July | 75° | 4.3″ | 8 |
| August | 73° | 3.8″ | 7 |
| September | 66° | 3.8″ | 7 |
| October | 55° | 3.2″ | 8 |
| November | 43° | 3.0″ | 7 |
| December | 34° | 3.4″ | 8 |
Regional context
Columbus falls within a humid subtropical climate region. This classification connects the city to nearby areas that share similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions.
Similar climates: Cincinnati, OH, Dayton, OH, Middletown, OH, Newark, OH, Springfield, 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?
- Columbus's last spring frost typically falls around mid-April, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Columbus?
- May is the wettest month with about 4.8 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 45 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Columbus?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 75°F.
- What is the coldest month in Columbus?
- January is typically coldest, averaging about 29°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Columbus?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-April); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Columbus get?
- Columbus averages about 95 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Columbus?
- Columbus's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Columbus, Ohio experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. January temperatures typically hover near 29°F while July averages 75°F — creating a 46°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Columbus receives about 45 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 95 rainy days.
Weather patterns follow the city's latitude (40.0°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what grows here, when frost occurs, and daily weather conditions.