Throughout These 13 Winter Seasons, Cleveland Accumulated Very Little Snow
By Nikki Rhoades|Updated on January 11, 2024(Originally published December 31, 2019)
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
We’ve all joked once or twice about how horrible winters were back in the day in Cleveland, Ohio, and elsewhere. This is true, of course, with Cleveland winters that bring infamous blizzards, as was the case in 1913 and in 1978, as well. Typically, Cleveland gets around 65 inches of snow during the winter season. Some years see so much more snowfall… and some years see hardly any in comparison, which many consider a blessing. In memory of our mildest winters ever, we’re going to take a visual tour through some highlights of Cleveland snowfall by year, with a focus on the least snowy years on record in chronological order.
1894 was a big year for Cleveland... but it certainly wasn't a big year in terms of snowfall. While the Soldiers and Sailors Monument was dedicated in 1894 and Euclid Beach Park opened in 1895, locals were buzzing about the snowfall. The snowiest day of the season, February 12, 1894, brought only 5 inches in total!
The snowiest day of this season, January 24, 1897, brought only 3.2 inches to The Land. Imagine that! Just a few months later, Winton Motor Carriage Co. was founded in Cleveland. Can you imagine how unusual it would have been to see a horse-drawn snowplow in Cleveland before automobiles were common?!
When looking at Cleveland snowfall by year, the least snowy season in the city's history was the winter of 1918 into 1919. In the season, the average snowfall was 1.2 inches. That was just below the total on Cleveland's snowiest day of the season, which was December 14, 1919. The heaviest total snowfall in December of that year hit Hiram in Portage County, totaling a mere 7 inches throughout the entire month. In December of 1918, the Cleveland Orchestra actually hosted their first-ever concert... can you imagine better weather to travel in?!
As the Roaring Twenties celebrated the conclusion of its first year, locals were abuzz with excitement. The Indians had won the World Series and the local history museum had opened to visitors... yet winter brought little snow. The snowiest day of this season would fall on February 11, 1921, which totaled 6.6 inches. Interestingly, when comparing winter in Ohio to elsewhere, 1921 was the year that Silver Lake, Colorado set the record for the greatest 24-hour snowfall. Between April 14 and 15, 75.8" of snow fell on an unsuspecting Colorado community.
Clevelanders enjoyed the return of mild winter weather between 1921 and 1922. This season, Cleveland enjoyed 53 days above freezing... and only 35 days below freezing. The average high was 37 degrees Fahrenheit in this season.
If Clevelanders thought the previous few years were snowy, they were in for a surprise when the season of 1923 and 1924 brought even less snow! January 05, 1924 was the snowiest day of this winter season, bringing a mere 3.6 inches in one day. Though there were only four days above 50 degrees this winter season, Clevelanders enjoyed 50 days above freezing.
The Roaring Twenties marched on with another mild winter between 1924 and 1925... which was great news for the city's brand new bus system! Though Cleveland totaled about 26 inches this season, a few days received quite a bit of snowfall. On January 20, 1925, nearly six inches fell on the city!
New Year's Day of 1928 was the snowiest day of this winter season, and locals certainly weren't complaining about starting a New Year with a cumulative three inches of snowfall. This season accounted for a pleasantly mild winter, with exactly one dozen winter days soaring to over 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
In 1930, Cleveland was the fifth-largest city in the nation. With nearly a million residents, there was doubtlessly a lot of excitement when the Cleveland Union Terminal formally opened that summer. However, that winter brought yet another mild season to locals. All in all, Cleveland experienced 66 days above freezing between 1930 and 1931, with the average high reaching nearly 37 degrees Fahrenheit. The snowiest day of this season actually came just one day before Thanksgiving that year.
Incredibly, the snowiest day of the 1931 and 1932 winter season occurred on November 27, 1931... just one year and one day after the previous year's snowiest day. The 24-hour snowfall was even lower than the previous year, totaling at a mere 3.1 inches.
This season was a relatively quiet one in terms of historical events... and snowfall, for that matter. Though not as mild as previous winters, Cleveland saw the least amount of snowfall in over a decade. The average high temperature of this season was nearly 35 degrees Fahrenheit, which was actually the coldest average high temp in about two decades.
Here's another year that will not go down in the record books for snowiest winters in Ohio history. Cleveland enjoyed another relatively mild winter between 1997 and 1998. The average high temperature was a cozy 41.45 degrees, and an unexpected 70 days above freezing kept Cleveland relatively snow-free for a large chunk of the winter. In this season, only 18 days dipped below freezing. Talk about the winter that wasn't!
Last but not least is the mildest winter in the last decade. Following the brutality of the previous February's polar vortex, 2015 came to a close with an average high of 44.28 degrees Fahrenheit and 64 days above freezing. the most snow of this season came late in the season, dropping 4 inches on the region on April 09, 2016.
Cleveland has been known to have some unpredictable weather, but locals will never complain about a mild winter! Do you prefer a snowier season or a milder one? Sound off in the comments!
Does the thought of winter thrill or chill you to the core? For a look at some of the snowiest winters in Ohio history for Cleveland, you will enjoy reading about the most memorable winters in Cleveland history.
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Winter In Ohio
Katie Feldkamp|January 11, 2024
How much does it snow in Cleveland?
When calculating Cleveland snowfall by year, we usually think of by winter season, not calendar year. Those calculations begin at the first snowfall, which is typically in November but can begin as early as October. It’s not unlikely for the last snowfall of the season to be in April, but don’t be surprised if there are flurries in May as well. So how much does it snow in Cleveland? On average it snows about 63 inches, although it’s always good to keep in mind Cleveland snowfall by year can vary greatly.
What are the best towns to visit during winter in Ohio?
There’s never a bad time of year to check out charming towns throughout the Buckeye State. A few towns that you may enjoy a visit to during winter in Ohio include:
The historic canal town of Roscoe Village in Coshocton
Zoar Village, just south of Canton
Lebanon, just north of Cincinnati, has the perfect blend of historic and modern
What are some of the best trails for hiking during winter in Ohio?
During winter in Ohio, while the cold weather often makes you want to stay indoors, there are still plenty of picturesque hiking trails for you to explore. The next time you need a breath of fresh air, consider the following:
Old Man’s Cave Loop in Hocking Hills State Park
The Buckeye Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Clear Creek Metropark Trails in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks
