Ohio’s odds of seeing measurable snow in January are historically strong, based on long-term climate records—though amounts vary widely by location and by year.
In National Weather Service climate reporting, snow accumulation of at least 0.1 inch is normally recorded as measurable; anything less is often logged as a “trace.”
According to 30-year climate normals (1991-2020), January is the state’s primary snow month.
Cleveland’s average January snowfall is 18.4 inches, with 5.8 days receiving 1 inch or more of snowfall.
In Columbus, the average January snowfall is 9.5 inches, with 2.8 days averaging 1 inch or more. In the Cincinnati area (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport station), the average January snowfall is 7.7 inches, with 2.2 days of 1 inch or more.
Temperatures also contribute to the chance. January average temperatures in these reference areas are near or below freezing—about 29.1°F in Cleveland, 29.6°F in Columbus, and 31.4°F in the Cincinnati-area station—conditions that can support snowfall when moisture and storm systems align.
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