Ohio Climate
Top 5 Cities: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Akron
This month in numbers
Ohio experienced its warmest April on record, with an average temperature of 14.17°C, a striking 4.5°C above the 1961–1990 baseline. This also marked the 1st warmest April for maximum temperatures, reaching 21.11°C, an anomaly of +5.1°C. The broader February–April 2026 period also ranked as the 4th warmest on record for both average and maximum temperatures. Globally, April 2026 was the 2nd warmest April for land temperatures, with the February–April period also ranking 2nd warmest globally. Ohio's 1-month anomaly of +4.49°C placed it as the 7th warmest of 234 regions worldwide.
What changed
The past three months have seen a significant warming trend in Ohio, with average temperatures for February–April 2026 ranking 4th highest on record. This regional warming is considerably higher than the national average for April, which saw a +1.9°C anomaly. Ohio is part of a striking pattern of warmth across the US, with 9 of the top 10 warmest 3-month anomalies globally being US states. The state also experienced an unusual concentration of extreme weather events recently, with four wildfires, two drought events, and one flood event logged over the past 12 months, with the recent occurrences representing 100% of the annual total for each type.
What’s driving change?
The pronounced warming in Ohio is influenced by several factors, including , with spring arriving notably early. The state's "leaf out" period arrived two to three weeks earlier than usual, and "growing degree days" set a new record, smashing the previous high from 1945. This early onset of spring, coupled with a developing El Niño in the Pacific Ocean, is contributing to an unusually intense jet stream that is bringing warmer conditions and increased atmospheric moisture to the Ohio Valley. Additionally, Ohio experienced significant rainfall from March 31 to April 4, 2026, with 3 to 6 inches across the area, leading to minor to moderate flooding in some rivers. This followed unseasonably dry conditions in late 2025 and through the winter.
Looking ahead
The NOAA seasonal outlook for June through August suggests that while El Niño can bring predictable changes to some areas, it does not carry a dominant signal for the Midwest, indicating equal chances of near, above, or below-average temperatures and rainfall.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
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Data Sources
Data Sources for Ohio
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) — see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Ohio changing?
Ohio is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The trend rate is shown as °C per decade in the headline panel; you can also see the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Ohio come from?
Climate data for Ohio comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Ohio climate data cover?
The Ohio climate profile covers Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and surrounding areas. Ohio climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Ohio climate update refreshed?
The Ohio climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.