Frost Dates for 43214 — Columbus, Ohio

Half of springs at Columbus Wcmh, OH see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 5, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 7 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 24% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 24 in half of years, as early as October 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 25, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 185 days in a typical year, longer than at 68% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 203 days one year in ten and falls short of 164 one year in ten. On average 113 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 10 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 10 and March 7.

July is the warmest month at Columbus Wcmh, OH, averaging 85°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 37°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,471 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 78% of the 148 Ohio stations. 36% of them (1,256) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 769. Precipitation totals 44.6 inches a year, most in May (4.8") and least in February (2.6"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Columbus Ohio State Univ Airport, OH, 4 miles northwest of Columbus and 165 feet higher, has a last frost 2 days later (April 22), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 23), a season 2 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Columbus usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Westerville, OH, 6.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 37 days after the last snow.

ZIP 43214 is 2 miles from Columbus Wcmh, OH, which stands at 740 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 14 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 43228 (Columbus). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 43214 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.