Cleveland Weather and Climate Guide

There’s no way around it—winter in Cleveland can be brutal. The skies are overcast, temperatures are frigid (at least once every winter, the area known as America’s North Coast is good for a cold snap that cancels schools and leads to tips on the news to keep your pipes from freezing and bursting), and depending on where in the area you are, there’s lots of snow too.

However, one of the perks of living in an area accustomed to the cold is that people know how to manage it. Roads get salted and plowed, most businesses remain open unless there are extreme snowfalls or blizzard conditions, and residents generally go about their daily routines.

Moreover, after winter, there’s usually a relatively temperate spring, a warm (but typically not oppressively hot) summer, and a pleasant fall.

Fast Climate Facts:

• Hottest month: August (average high 80 degrees)
• Coldest month: January (average low 23 degrees)
• Rainiest month: September (3.8 inches)
• Snowiest month: January (18.7 inches)
• Lake Erie: Coldest month: February (average water temperature 34 degrees); Warmest month: August (average water temperature 74 degrees)

Spring in Cleveland

Temperatures are most volatile in the spring. It’s not uncommon for it to be sunny and 70 one day and then near freezing the next. However, after winter, people are usually delighted at anything that isn’t snow—even if it occasionally happens in March and April. In March, residents will treat a 50 degree day as downright tropical.

Everything and everyone starts to come alive in the spring, and individuals look for an excuse to be outside, from the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade to opening day for baseball season to Dyngus Day on the Monday after Easter.

What to pack: A warm jacket, as even a warm day in the spring often turns noticeably colder after the sun sets—particularly if you’re near the lake.

Summer in Cleveland

Summer does get warm, which creates the perfect opportunity to enjoy Lake Erie, either on one of the public beaches dotting the coastline or on a boat ride. Therefore, if you’re going out on a fishing charter, dress warmer than you think you need to. It can get cold on the open water of the Great Lakes.

There are plenty of weekend festivals, from county fairs to the Feast of the Assumption (August) in Little Italy, and even a festival devoted to Duck Tape in nearby Avon. Additionally, there are outdoor bars and concert venues throughout the area, predominantly on the banks of Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River.

Consequently, there are various climate-controlled attractions, from the museums in University Circle to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in case it gets too hot. Tickets are typically easy to find if you want to watch the Indians, and almost as plentiful (and a bit cheaper) for the minor-league or independent teams around the area. The Fourth of July is a significant holiday, and depending on when it falls during the week, there can be opportunities to see fireworks three or four days in a row in different but relatively close municipalities.

What to pack: Shorts, T-shirts, sandals or tennis shoes. And don’t forget bug spray—lots of bug spray.

Fall in Cleveland

As the leaves change colors, temperatures typically cool across the region. Labor Day is seen as the unofficial end to summer, but it’s still common to experience summer-like temperatures through September. Yet, there’s nothing like a football game—be it high school on Friday, college on Saturday, or the Browns on Sunday—with a little bit of that fall bite in the air.

In many ways, Ohio is a rural state, and even in a city like Cleveland, you’re usually not far away from farmland and the growing field of what’s called agritourism, with inns and bed and breakfasts in the woods and opportunities for day trips like pumpkin and apple picking and walking through corn mazes.

What to pack: A little bit of everything. Layers are key, as a warm sunny day occasionally gives way to a cold night. You might still need the bug spray too, as midges tend to swarm. They don’t bite, but they can be quite annoying.

Winter in Cleveland

It’s not uncommon to see snow anytime between the end of October (the Indians famously had a World Series game snowed out in 1997) and April (they’ve had Opening Day snowed out too), but snowfall truly begins in earnest in December. The city averages about 68 inches of snow annually; however, depending on your location, the total may vary. Because of its geography, Cleveland experiences lake effect snow, caused when cold fronts cross Lake Erie, picking up moisture and then dropping it as snow on the east side and suburbs. In fact, it’s entirely possible to live on the west side and get a dusting while school districts on the east side cancel classes due to several inches of accumulation.

December is festive, with Christmas approaching and an abundance of light displays and outdoor activities like tree lightings and ice skating rinks. Nevertheless, January and February can be quite a chore. The city is often regarded as one of the cloudiest in the country. Consequently, the combination of gray skies, cold temperatures, and precipitation can dampen anyone’s cheerful disposition.

What to pack: Anything warm—sweaters, sweatshirts, stocking caps, boots, hunting socks. And maybe some Vitamin D for extra measure.