Frost Dates for 43227 — Columbus, Ohio

Half of springs at Columbus-Valley Crossing, OH see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 11, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after April 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 3 20%, and after May 8 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 77% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 19 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 25, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 177 days in a typical year, shorter than at 61% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 196 days one year in ten and falls short of 158 one year in ten. On average 118 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 9 days longer, to about May 2, and return around October 8. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 2 and March 11.

July is the warmest month at Columbus-Valley Crossing, OH, averaging 86°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 19°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 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,529 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 148 Ohio stations. 36% of them (1,274) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 781. Precipitation totals 43.3 inches a year, most in July (4.6") and least in February (2.6"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Columbus Port Columbus International Airport, OH, 3 miles north of Columbus, has a last frost 5 days earlier (April 18), a first frost 8 days later (October 27), a season 14 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Columbus usually arrives around November 21, and the last of the season around March 29. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Columbus Port Columbus International Airport, OH, 3.3 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 25 days after the last snow.

ZIP 43227 is 3 miles from Columbus-Valley Crossing, OH, which stands at 760 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 12 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 43123 (Grove City). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 43227 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.