Home › Ohio › Columbus (John Glenn Airport)

When does it first snow in Columbus (John Glenn Airport), OH?

At Columbus (John Glenn Airport), the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 21. That is the median over the last 30 snow seasons: half of seasons saw it earlier, half later. In about 1 season in 10 it came by Nov 4, and in 1 in 10 not until Dec 17 or later. The earliest was Oct 15 (2024-25) and the latest Jan 10 (2015-16). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Dec 12, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 26, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 17.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; no 32°F freeze recorded yet at this station. Compare with the typical dates above. This is observed data and can lag by a day or two, and it is not a forecast.

Nov 21Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Dec 12Median first 1"+ snowfall

26.6"Average snowfall per season

23%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 26Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 17Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

189Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Columbus (John Glenn Airport)

First day with…	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest in 30 seasons	Latest in 30 seasons	Seasons with one
0.1" of snow or more (measurable)	Nov 21	Nov 4 – Dec 17	Oct 15 (2024-25)	Jan 10 (2015-16)	100%
1" of snow or more	Dec 12	Nov 17 – Jan 12	Nov 2 (1999-00)	Jan 21 (2006-07)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 30	Dec 6 – Jan 26	Nov 17 (2014-15)	Feb 16 (2023-24)	73%

Based on 30 seasons (July–June, 1995-96 to 2024-25) with at least 85% complete daily snowfall records at the station. Dates are for a single day’s snowfall, so "1 inch" means one calendar day with 1" or more, not total accumulation.

Chance the first snow has already happened by a given date

Snowfall	By Nov 1	By Dec 1	By Jan 1
0.1"+ (measurable)	7%	67%	97%
1"+	0%	33%	77%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Mar 26 (median).

White Christmas odds in Columbus (John Glenn Airport)

NOAA defines a white Christmas as at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on the morning of December 25. Using the last 30 years of daily snow-depth records (1995–2024) at this station, Columbus (John Glenn Airport) had that in 23% of years, at least 3 inches in 13%, and at least 6 inches in 0%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.6 inches and the deepest was 4 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 17% of years. Based on 30 years with a recorded depth on Dec 25.

Chance of at least 1 inch of snow on the ground, by date

Share of the last 30 years with 1"+ snow depth within 3 days of each date. Snow cover is most likely around Jan 29 (36%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Columbus (John Glenn Airport)

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 26	Oct 17 – Nov 4	Oct 3 (2003) / Nov 23 (2007)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 17	Apr 6 – Apr 29	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 13	Nov 2 – Nov 23	Oct 23 (1997) / Nov 29 (2024)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 2	Mar 23 – Apr 11	–	100%

Based on the station’s daily minimum temperature, 1995–2024. “Freeze” here means a daily low at or below the threshold, which is not the same as visible frost. Your yard can differ by several degrees and days from an airport weather station, so use these as planning odds, not guarantees.

The median stretch between the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (the freeze-free season) was about 189 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: John Glenn Intl Ap (USW00014821), elevation 810 ft. Data: NOAA NCEI GHCN-Daily. Computed by First Snow Dates; how we calculate this. Historical averages only; for a forecast see weather.gov.

Planning for winter? Heat pump vs gas furnace, propane and oil: heating cost in Ohio (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).