Frost Dates for 43235 — Columbus, Ohio

Half of springs at Columbus Ohio State Univ Airport, OH see their last 32°F night by April 22; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 9. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 3 20%, and after May 9 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 23 in half of years, as early as October 9 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 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 183 days in a typical year, longer than at 59% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 202 days one year in ten and falls short of 163 one year in ten. On average 112 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 11 days longer, to about May 3, and return around October 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and March 10.

July is the warmest month at Columbus Ohio State Univ Airport, OH, averaging 84°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°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 26% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,370 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 66% of the 148 Ohio stations. 36% of them (1,216) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 749. Precipitation totals 35.8 inches a year, most in June (4.1") and least in February (1.9"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Columbus Wcmh, OH, 5 miles south of Columbus and 165 feet lower, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 20), a first frost 1 day later (October 24), a season 2 days longer.

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, 6.2 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 39 days after the last snow.

ZIP 43235 is 2 miles from Columbus Ohio State Univ Airport, OH, which stands at 905 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 43026 (Hilliard). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 43235 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.