Snow kidding! A look at Ohio's earliest major snowfalls over the years

Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
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Snowfall in October isn't out of the question, but the first measurable snow in the Buckeye State is typically in November.
Snowfall in October isn't out of the question, but the first measurable snow in the Buckeye State is typically in November.

A certain four-letter word has not yet been uttered in Ohio weather forecasts. But if history is any indicator, it won't be too long before snow is on our minds and windshields.

The first measurable snow in the Buckeye State is typically in November. The National Weather Service considers measurable snow to be at least 0.1 inches or greater, with trace amounts not counted toward the records.

However, snow in October is not out of the question. Back in 1993, some 6.2 inches of snow fell by what some called White Halloween in Greater Cincinnati. The same storm dropped an inch of white stuff in Columbus.

This year might be a bit trickier when it comes to snow, thanks to the impact of the El Nino climate pattern in the Pacific. This weather phenomenon happens every two to seven years when there's a general warming of the Pacific Ocean near the equator. This impacts the weather pattern across the U.S., and in this case means states like Florida are typically cooler, while Ohio is warmer and not as snowy.

Here's a rundown of weather records − snow wise − for some of Ohio's larger cities.

El Nino in Ohio: How will the climate pattern impact weather this winter?

A salt truck clears the edge of Galbraith Road in Cincinnati, near Kenwood Mall, as it drops salt on the roadway in January 2023.
A salt truck clears the edge of Galbraith Road in Cincinnati, near Kenwood Mall, as it drops salt on the roadway in January 2023.

When will it snow in Cincinnati?

Weather records in Cincinnati date back to 1893. And when it comes to the earliest measurable snowfall, Cincinnati didn't mess around.

The Queen City saw some 5 inches of snow fall on Oct. 19, 1989 − setting the record for the earliest ever snowfall.

The latest first measurable snowfall came Jan. 12, 1983.

The latest date of measurable snow in a winter season came May 6, 1989. And the earliest final snowfall in a winter season came Feb. 11, 1919.

Snow falls as the sun sets near the Arena District in Columbus.
Snow falls as the sun sets near the Arena District in Columbus.

When does it snow in Columbus?

They have been keeping weather records in Columbus since 1885.

The earliest measurable snow in the state's capital came Oct. 10, 1906. The latest first measurable snowfall was Jan. 10, 2016.

As for winter's end, the latest measurable snow ever in Columbus was May 9, 1923, with the earliest final snowfall on Feb. 16, 1997.

A barn on Martin Road in Akron after a snowfall in 2023.
A barn on Martin Road in Akron after a snowfall in 2023.

When does it snow in Akron and Canton?

The National Weather Service snow records for the Akron-Canton region date back to 1948.

The earliest first measurable snow for the region came Oct. 2, 1974, with the latest snowfall taking place Christmas Day in 2001.

The latest snow in a winter season came on May 9, 1966, and the earliest last snow ever in Akron-Canton was March 11, 1948.

A bout of snow blanketed Mansfield in January 2023.
A bout of snow blanketed Mansfield in January 2023.

When does it snow in Mansfield, Ohio?

Weather records for snowfall in Mansfield date back to 1899.

The earliest first measurable snow in Mansfield was Oct. 18, 1992. The latest came on New Year's Eve in 2001.

The latest final measurable snowfall was May 9, 1966. The earliest final snowfall of the winter season in Mansfield was Feb. 23, 1935.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: When does it snow in Ohio? A look at the state's earliest major snows