C olumbus Weather.Net

Columbus Weather

Columbus has a climate that falls between humid continental and humid subtropical. The climate is characterized by hot and humid summers, cold and dry winters. Columbus weather is also characterized by light snowfall during winter. The city receives light snowfall because it is not located close to the path of strong winter lows as other cities located in the eastern side. Columbus is also located far from Lake Erie, therefore it does not get affected by the lake effect snow that comes from this lake. However Columbus weather is hugely affected by several lakes located on its northern side which cause the long stretches of clouds during winter.

Weather Conditions Of Columbus

The hottest temperature ever recorded for Columbus weather was 106 F (41 C) which happened during the famous Dust Bowl of the 1930s which occurred twice, one on the 21st of July 1934 and the other on the 14th of July 1936. Columbus weather conditions can become severe at times, with serious thunderstorms that can cause tremendous lightning, hail stones and tornadoes. Columbus can also experience floods, ice storms and blizzards time to time.

Characteristics Of Humid Continental Climate

Columbus weather partially experiences a humid continental climate. Humid continental climate is characterized by large seasonal differences, where summers are warm to hot and winters can become extremely cold. Precipitation in this kind of climate is well distributed throughout the year while other places see a reduction in winter precipitation or even winter drought. Columbus weather experiences snowfall independent of average seasonal totals. Snow is typical in all areas with a humid continental climate such that it is more popular than rain especially during winter. Areas that have snowfall often have snow cover that is very deep.

Columbus weather receives rainfall mostly during thunderstorms with a sporadic tropical system. Although humid continental climates are humid, their humidity is not necessarily high, but the name is given to show that their weather is not arid. According to Koppen definition of humid continental climate, a climate is considered to be humid continental when its mean temperatures of the coldest months fall below - 3 C (26.6 F) and there must be 3 or 4 months with average temperatures of or above 10 C (50 F).

Characteristics of Subtropical Climate

Humid subtropical climates are characterized by hot and humid summers, mild to cool winters. Koppen defines this climate as having the coldest mean temperature ranging between -3 C (26.6 F) and 18 C (64.4 F) and the warmest months have to have temperatures that go above 22 C (71.6 F). This climate is often associated with dry winters and there is no distinguished dry season.

Columbus weather receives significant amounts of precipitation. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year although there are some sections that do experience droughts, particularly those located in regions that border the semi-arid climates. Inconsistent droughts are common and at times they often have catastrophic effects on agriculture. Winters often have rainfall which is however associated with severe storms which are brought by the westerly winds. Summer is characterized by rainfall which is accompanied by serious thunder storms and occasional tropical or hurricanes. Humid sub-tropical climates often occur on the southeast of all continents located between latitudes 25 and 40 north and are located near the coasts.

Humid subtropical climates are common in South America although they are also available in North America in the following states; Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.

Hot Summer Subtype

Columbus weather also goes through another variant of the humid continental climate and it is called the hot summer subtype. This climate features average temperatures of at least 22 C (71.6 F) in the summer months. January temperatures in this climate can go way below -3 C (26.6 F). This kind of climate is also found in Europe in countries like Romania, Ukraine, Croatia and Serbia and other countries located in central areas.

Warm Summer Subtype

Columbus weather also goes through another variant of humid continental climate which is the warm summer subtype climate. The warm summer subtype covers more areas that the hot summer subtype climate. Areas that experience the warm summer subtype climate have average temperatures ranging between 21 - 28 C (70 - 82 F) during daytime while average temperatures in the coldest months can fall way below -3 C (27 F).

Weather conditions in Columbus are generally favorable throughout the year. Thus the place is ideal to visit any time of the year be it during winter or summer.