Ohio Annual Temperatures and Extremes

City

Avg High Temp

Avg Low Temp 

Avg Annual Temp

 Avg # days > 90F Avg # days < 32F  Record High Temp Record Low Temp
Akron 59.2 40.4 49.8 8 128 101 / 1988 -25 / 1994
Cleveland 59.2 41.4 50.3 11 120 104 / 1988 -20 / 1994
Columbus 62.1 42.5 52.5 18 114 104 / 1954 -22 / 1994
Dayton 63.1 44.5 53.8 31 103 105 / 1934 -21 / 1985
Mansfield 58.6 40.5 49.5 6 128 101 / 1988 -22 / 1985
Toledo 59.1 39.3 49.2 15 136 104 / 1988 -20 / 1984
Youngstown 58.3 39.2 48.8 7 133 100 / 1954 -22 / 1994
  • Ohio annual average temperature - 50.68 degrees, 26th warmest state in the U.S.
  • Record Hottest year in Ohio - 1998 / Avg temperature 54.11 degrees
  • Record Coldest year in Ohio - 1917 / Avg temperature 47.10 degrees
  • Ohio average Summer temperature (June, July, August) 70.9 F degrees, 27th warmest U.S. summer state
  • Ohio average Winter temperature (December, January, February) 29.5 F degrees, 23rd coldest U.S. winter state

Ohio's Temperature Records 

  • Hottest temperature ever recorded: 113 F, Gallipolis, southern Ohio, 7/21/1934
  • Coldest temperature ever recorded: -39 F, Milligan, southeastern Ohio, 2/10/1899
  • Hottest location ranked by highest average annual temperature: Cincinnati, southwestern Ohio, 56.5 F
  • Coldest location ranked by lowest average annual temperature: Chardon, northeastern Ohio, 47.8 F
  • On December 3, 1982, an unseasonably strong ridge of high pressure off the southeast U.S. coast brought 
    record heat to Ohio. Cities that easily established new records included Cleveland, OH: 77° (broke previous
    daily record by 12 degrees) Youngstown, OH: 76° (broke previous daily record by 15 degrees) and 
    Akron, OH: 76° (broke previous daily record by 13 degrees    )
  • 1978 was Cincinnati's coldest winter and year on record. January's average temperature was only 
    20.9 F degrees, compared to the normal average of 31.1 F.

The climate of Ohio is continental, characterized by a relatively large range of seasonal variability with cold winters and warm, humid, summers. It is affected by warm maritime tropical air masses that bring summer heat and humidity but which also produce occasional mild winter days. Hot and dry air masses periodically envelop the State and produced the State’s record high temperature of 113 degrees Fahrenheit (° F) on July 21, 1934. The State is also frequented by cold dry continental polar air masses that bring cool and bright summer days and very cold winter days. Extraordinarily cold Arctic air masses, originating in Siberia, occasionally cross the Arctic Ocean and Canada bringing bitterly cold air to Ohio and many other states; leading for example to Ohio’s lowest minimum temperature of -39° F, reached most recently on January 22, 1994. The State is affected by wave cyclones, or mid-latitude storms, many of which originate in Alberta, Canada, Colorado and the western Gulf of Mexico. "Alberta clippers" frequently sweep southeastward across the Great Lakes in most months of the year, carrying relatively small amounts of precipitation. 

Mean annual temperatures vary across the State, ranging from about 55° F in the southernmost areas near the Ohio River to 49 in the northeast hills. This south to north variation extends through each season. In January, the mean temperature in southern Ohio approaches 30° F while it is near 25 in the north. Daytime high temperatures in January average above freezing over most of the State except in the northwest. Summer temperature variability is lower. Daytime highs average 84 to 86° F in the western part of the State while overnight lows range from 62 to 66° F. Only in northeastern Ohio are temperatures a bit lower, with highs of 80 to 82° F and minima of 58 to 60° F. Lake Erie plays a considerable role in keeping mean temperatures lower in coastal northeastern Ohio during the spring and early summer.

 

Ohio precipitation averages and extremes, Columbus climate extremes/averages, precipitation and temperature data for all U.S. states and Top 10 U.S. climate extremes
Data source: National Climatic Data Center