OHIO — While snow in Ohio is commonly associated with late November or December, historical climate records show that on rare occasions, measurable snow has fallen as early as October.
The earliest documented measurable snowfall in the major Ohio cities offers a fascinating glimpse into the region’s climatological extremes.
Earliest Measurable Snow by City
In Columbus, official weather records (dating back to 1885) place the earliest recorded measurable snowfall on October 10, 1906, with a depth of 0.1 inches. In Cincinnati, continuous snowfall records since 1893 show the earliest measurable accumulation occurred on October 19, 1989, when 5.0 inches fell. In Dayton, data since about 1910 indicate the earliest measurable snow arrived on October 18, 1989, amounting to 0.2 inches.
These dates represent local records for “measurable” snow, defined as snow accumulation equal to or exceeding 0.1 inches.
What It Means in a Statewide Context
Because Ohio has multiple climate zones and many weather-observation stations, a single “statewide earliest snowfall” is harder to concretely define. However, the extreme early snow events at major cities provide a benchmark of what is possible under rare atmospheric conditions.
The October 19, 1989 snowfall in Cincinnati is among the more dramatic early events: 5 inches of snow in mid-October is highly unusual in that region. Meanwhile, Columbus’s 0.1-inch snowfall on October 10, 1906, is the earliest known measurable snow in that city’s long record.
Scientific and Practical Significance
Snow in October—especially measurable or heavy snowfall—requires a convergence of cold air aloft, moisture, and favorable storm tracks that are more typical of late autumn or winter. These early snow events are outliers in the climate record and tend to be short-lived, often melting quickly as late-fall solar heating resumes.
From a practical standpoint, when such early snow occurs, it can catch communities unprepared. Road crews may not yet have salt or plows ready; deciduous trees may still retain leaves, increasing the likelihood of damage from heavy, wet snow; and early snow can disrupt transportation and agriculture unexpectedly.
In summary, while snow is not unheard of in October in Ohio under rare conditions, the earliest widely accepted measurable snowfall records in major Ohio cities are October 10, 1906 (Columbus) and October 19, 1989 (Cincinnati). These incidents stand as reminders of how dynamic weather can sometimes defy seasonal expectations.
