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Ohio's mid-latitude, interior location and the lack of mountains to the north or south expose the state to incursions of very cold air masses from the Arctic in the winter and warm, humid air masses from the Gulf of Mexico in the summer. Lake Erie also has a significant influence on the local climate. Near-shore locations are considerably warmer during the winter and cooler during the summer than locations farther away from the shores. Lake-effect snow, caused by the warming and moistening of arctic air masses over the Great Lakes, is a hazard along the southeastern shoreline of Lake Erie.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, temperatures in Ohio have risen more than 1.5°F, and temperatures in the 2000s and 2010s were warmer than in any other historical period (Figure 1). The warming has not been steady. The 1930s through the mid-1950s were generally above the long-term average but were followed by the coldest period on record: the 1960s and 1970s. Since the 1970s, annual average temperature has risen more than 2°F. Based on observations through 2020, 1998 was the hottest year on record, with an annual average temperature for the state of 54.1°F. The second hottest year was 2012, with an average temperature of 54.0°F. This warming has been concentrated in the winter and spring. Summer days have not warmed substantially in the state, a feature characteristic of much of the Midwest. This lack of summer warming is reflected in a below average occurrence of very hot days (Figure 2a). However, in addition to the overall higher summer average nighttime temperatures, the state has experienced an increase in the number of warm nights (Figure 3). Both Cleveland and Columbus have experienced statistically significant increases in the number of warm nights since 1950. Since 2000, Cleveland and Columbus have averaged 17 and 22 warm nights, respectively, per year, compared to an average of 8 and 9 nights, respectively, in the 1950s through 1970s. Although both cities also experienced a higher frequency of warm nights in the 1930s, this was mostly due to extreme high daytime temperatures. While Ohio generally experienced a near to below average number of very cold nights between 1990 and 2020, very high values occurred in 2014 and 2015, when the so-called "polar vortex" pattern dominated winter weather in the eastern U.S. (Figure 2b).

Annual precipitation varies regionally, with the northwestern part of the state averaging 32 inches each year and the southern part of the state averaging 42 inches each year. Statewide total annual precipitation has ranged from a low of 26.8 inches in 1963 to a high of 56.0 inches in 2011. The driest multiyear periods were 1930-1934 and 1960-1964, and the wettest multiyear periods have occurred since 2000 (Figure 2c). Annual average precipitation during the driest and wettest consecutive 5 years has ranged from a low of 33.6 inches for the 1930-1934 period to a high of 43.3 inches for the 2015-2019 interval. Snowfall also varies across the state. The northern portion of the state along the southern shores of Lake Erie receives 60 inches or more annually, and the southern portion of the state receives less than 16 inches annually.

Ohio has experienced a significant increase in the number of 2-inch extreme precipitation events since the mid-1990s (Figure 4). Past episodes of heavy rains have caused severe flooding in the state. The Great Flood of 1913 was one of the deadliest floods in U.S. history and Ohio's greatest weather disaster. From March 23 to 26, heavy rains caused extreme runoff from soils saturated from winter storms. Levees along the Great Miami River failed, flooding the entire Great Miami River watershed. Downtown Dayton was hit particularly hard, with floodwaters reaching depths of 20 feet. The flooding caused more than $2 billion in damages, and more than 400 people died. One of the worst floods in recent decades occurred in March 1997. Between March 1 and 3, 6-12 inches of rain fell in parts of southern Ohio, causing serious flooding, particularly along Brush Creek and the Scioto and Great Miami Rivers. Levels on the main stem of the Ohio River were the highest in more than 30 years. Seventeen counties were declared federal disaster areas, and more than 5,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, resulting in almost $300 million in damages.

Dangerous storms can occur in every season and can cause major impacts, including loss of life, property damage, and disruptions to economic activity. Winter can bring snowstorms and ice storms, while convective storms (including thunderstorms, flood-producing rainstorms, hail, and tornadoes) are common in the warmer months. Although Ohio does not experience as many tornadoes as other states in the Midwest and Great Plains, the state has experienced several deadly tornado outbreaks. On June 28, 1924, Ohio's deadliest tornado struck the towns of Sandusky and Lorain, killing 85 people and causing more than a billion dollars in damages. Other notable storms include the Palm Sunday Outbreak on April 11, 1965, which produced 10 tornadoes in the state (4 of which were F4 intensity) and caused 60 deaths; the Xenia tornado (F5 intensity) in the Super Outbreak of 1974 that killed 34 people; and the outbreak of April 8-9, 1999, which produced 54 tornadoes, including an F4 intensity tornado in Blue Ash and Montgomery that killed 4 people.

Agriculture is an important component of Ohio's economy, and this sector is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. In 2007, unusually warm March temperatures were followed by a hard freeze in April, which devastated much of the state's apple crop. This scenario was again observed in 2012, when March temperatures were 9° to 15°F above average for the state but a cool April followed, with hard freezes. Seasonal precipitation can vary, with no real trend in winter or summer precipitation (Figures 2d and 2e). In 2012, an intense drought throughout the Midwest had severe impacts on Ohio. Rainfall totals for the summer were several inches below average. In addition to low precipitation, the period from January to June was the warmest in 120 years of record, with the warm temperatures compounding the dry conditions. By the end of the year, 86 of Ohio's 88 counties had been declared drought disaster areas.

Under a higher emissions pathway, historically unprecedented warming is projected to continue through this century (Figure 1). Even under a lower emissions pathway, annual average temperatures are projected to most likely exceed historical record levels by the middle of this century. However, a large range of temperature increases is projected under both pathways, and under the lower pathway, a few projections are only slightly warmer than historical records. Increases in extreme heat are a particular concern for Cincinnati, Columbus, and other urban areas, where the urban heat island effect raises summer temperatures. High temperatures combined with high humidity can create dangerous heat index values. From July 17 to 24, 2011, the Ohio River Valley experienced a prolonged heat wave. With temperatures above 90°F for several days in a row and dewpoints in the mid to upper 70s (°F), heat index values rose to between 100° and 110°F during the day. These occurrences are likely to become more common as temperatures continue to rise. However, there have been exceptionally cold winters in recent years. During the winters of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, persistent weather patterns brought frigid air southward from the Arctic, causing temperatures from December to February to be more than 3°F below average. Although the state averages approximately 6 very cold nights annually, these two winters averaged 18 very cold nights. The intensity of such events is projected to decrease in the future.

Although annual precipitation projections are uncertain, winter and spring precipitation is projected to increase (Figure 5). In addition, extreme precipitation is projected to increase, potentially causing more frequent and intense floods. Heavier precipitation and higher temperatures increase the risk of springtime flooding, posing a threat to Ohio's agricultural industry by delaying planting and resulting in a loss of yield.

The intensity of future droughts is projected to increase. Even if precipitation increases in the future, rising temperatures will increase the rate of loss of soil moisture during dry spells. Thus, future summer droughts, a natural part of the Ohio climate, are likely to be more intense.

Lead Authors

Rebekah Frankson, Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies (CISESS)

Kenneth E. Kunkel, Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies (CISESS)

Contributing Authors

Sarah M. Champion, Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies (CISESS)

David R. Easterling, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Recommended Citation

Frankson, R., K.E. Kunkel, S.M. Champion, and D.R. Easterling, 2022: Ohio State Climate Summary 2022. NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 150-OH. NOAA/NESDIS, Silver Spring, MD, 5 pp.

RESOURCES

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Ohio's mid-latitude, interior location and the lack of mountains to the north or south expose the state to incursions of very cold air masses from the Arctic in the winter and warm, humid air masses from the Gulf of Mexico in the summer. Lake Erie also has a significant influence on the local climate.

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Ohio's Water Quality Issues, Ag BMPs + H2Ohio

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Ohio's Water Quality Issues, Ag BMPs + H2Ohio

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The Pucker Effect - Project WET 2.0, page 360

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The Pucker Effect - Project WET 2.0, page 360

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Get the Groundwater Picture - Project WET 2.0, page 143

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Get the Groundwater Picture - Project WET 2.0, page 143

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Just Passing Through - Project WET 2.0, page 163

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Just Passing Through - Project WET 2.0, page 163

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Color Me a Watershed - Project WET 2.0, page 239

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Color Me a Watershed - Project WET 2.0, page 239

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Adventures in Density - Project WET 2.0, page 3

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Adventures in Density - Project WET 2.0, page 3

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Climate Change

All water on Earth follows a cycle of evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection, but climate change is accelerating this water cycle. Image: Unsplash/Anastasia Taioglou

Freelance Reporter, Ecowatch

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Climate crisis is speeding the water cycle, satellite data reveals

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Climate Change All water on Earth follows a cycle of evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection, but climate change is accelerating this water cycle. Image: Unsplash/Anastasia Taioglou Freelance Reporter, Ecowatch Stay up to date: Climate Change Follow Discover What's the World Economic Forum doing about climate change?

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Marsh Market - WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands, page 109

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Marsh Market - WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands, page 109

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Macroinvertebrate Mayhem - Project WET 2.0, page 343

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Macroinvertebrate Mayhem - Project WET 2.0, page 343

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Wetland Soils in Living Color - Project WET 2.0, page 217

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Wetland Soils in Living Color - Project WET 2.0, page 217

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Ecosystems Episode 1: What is an ecosystem?

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Linda Pettit (lpettit@franklinswcd.org) Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation - Stormwater Workshop & Groundwater Model Loan

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Linda Pettit (lpettit@franklinswcd.org) Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation - Stormwater Workshop & Groundwater Model Loan

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Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District - Creating Conservation Solutions for Over 70 Years

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Review of 6th Grade Geography - latitude, longitude, and topography

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Review of 6th Grade Geography - latitude, longitude, and topography

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End of Water Cycle Discussion - Educator Resource

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End of Water Cycle Discussion - Educator Resource

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How's My Waterway - Guided Notes for Educator

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How's My Waterway - Guided Notes for Educator

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Seeing Watersheds - Project WET, page 187

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Seeing Watersheds - Project WET, page 187

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The Incredible Journey - Project WET 2.0 page 155

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The Incredible Journey - Project WET 2.0 page 155

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The Incredible Journey Project WET pg 155

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Educator Concept Map Virtual Wetland Field Trip

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Educator Concept Map Virtual Wetland Field Trip

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Concept Map Educator- Virtual Wetland Field Trip 

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Virtual Wetland Field Trip Concept Map Student

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Virtual Wetland Field Trip Concept Map Student

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Concept Map Student - Virtual Wetland Field Trip 

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Students learn how watersheds work and why they are important, before locating their local watershed online. Next, they turn their attention to Mount Everest and follow the path of the water from the mountain’s ice to the surrounding watershed. Students then read about the people who rely on E…

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Participants in the Great Lakes Marine Debris Collaborative offer links and downloadable educational materials for people of all ages to learn about marine debris. Whether you are a formal educator or just interested in learning more, there are general and region-specific resources available.

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By collecting data about litter wherever you see it, from the ocean to your backyard, you can contribute to critical scientific research. Help scientists and researchers better understand the bigger picture of the plastic pollution crisis, from global trends to impacts on local communities. To get started, all you need to do is download the free Marine Debris Tracker mobile application, also called Debris Tracker, on your smart device.

Litter that ends up in the environment can harm or kill wildlife, while also damaging and degrading habitats. While some items that end up as waste could have once played a critical role in keeping people safe and healthy, like medical or protective equipment, litter can threaten navigational safety, economies, and human health. Marine debris-any human-made item, commonly made of plastic, which makes its way to the ocean-is one of the most pervasive global threats to the health of the ocean. Scientists estimate that 80 percent of marine debris comes from land-based sources. To really understand this problem, we need data not only on the coast but also upstream in the communities where much of the problem starts.

The large Debris Tracker dataset needed for research would be impossible to collect without help from citizen scientists like you. Information you contribute can help researchers develop data-driven solutions to plastic pollution threats. Your community can also use the data to help drive positive changes locally.

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By collecting data about litter wherever you see it, from the ocean to your backyard, you can contribute to critical scientific research. Help scientists and researchers better understand the bigger picture of the plastic pollution crisis, from global trends to impacts on local communities.

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Plastic is everywhere: In your home, your office, your school - and your ocean. Among the top 10 kinds of trash picked up during the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup were food wrappers, beverage bottles, grocery bags, straws, and take out containers, all made of plastic. How did it all get there? Why is it a problem? What can we do?

The problem with plastic

While it's tough to say exactly how much plastic is in the ocean, scientists think about 8 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in 2010. That's the weight of nearly 90 aircraft carriers, and the problem continues to grow.

These plastics come in many different forms. Just think about all the plastic items you use daily: the toothbrush you grab first thing in the morning, the container your lunch comes in, or the bottle you drink water from after your workout.

All these things get used and, eventually, thrown out. Many plastic products are single-use items that are designed to be thrown out, like water bottles or take out containers. These are used and discarded quickly. If this waste isn't properly disposed of or managed, it can end up in the ocean.

Unlike some other kinds of waste, plastic doesn't decompose. That means plastic can stick around indefinitely, wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems. Some plastics float once they enter the ocean, though not all do. As the plastic is tossed around, much of it breaks into tiny pieces, called microplastics.

The first thing that comes to mind for many people when they think of microplastics are the small beads found in some soaps and other personal care products. But microplastics also include bits of what were once larger items.

Microfibers, shed from synthetic clothing or fishing nets, are another problematic form of microplastic. These fibers, beads, and microplastic fragments can all absorb harmful pollutants like pesticides, dyes, and flame retardants, only to later release them in the ocean.

What can you do?

There are many ways to keep plastic out of the ocean! Here are two strategies:

Reduce plastic use.
Think about all the plastic items you use every day. Can you count them all? Look around you. How many plastic things can you see? Being more aware of how and why you use the plastics that you do is the first step to reducing plastic use. Commit to changing your habits by reducing your use of disposable and single-use plastic items, reusing items and/or recycling them.

Participate in a cleanup.
Volunteer to pick up marine litter in your local community. Find a cleanup near you!

NOAA's Marine Debris Program (MDP) works to understand how plastics - and other marine debris - get into our ocean, how they can be removed, and how they can be kept from polluting our marine environment in the future.

Infographic text:

Commonly found Plastics include cigarette butts, food wrappers, beverage bottles, straws, cups and plates, bottle caps, and single-use bags.

How to help? Reduce, reuse, recycle. Dispose of waste properly no matter where you are. Get involved and participate in local cleanups in your area. Remember that our land and sea are connected.
Impacts include:

Entanglement: Marine life can get caught and killed in derelict fishing nets and other plastic debris.

Ingestion: Animals can easily mistake plastic debris for food.

Sources include:

Boats/nets: Fishing gear can become marine debris when it is lost or abandoned.

Littering: Intentional littering or improper disposal of trash can cause marine debris.

Debris can enter the water via:

Rain and winds: Rain and wind can sweep debris into nearby waterbodies.

Streams and storm drains: Streams and storm drains can carry debris directly into the ocean or Great Lakes.

Microplastics are small plastics less that 5mm. They can come from large plastics breaking down, or can be produced as small plastics such as microbeads, which can be found in products such as toothpaste and face wash.

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national oceanic and atmospheric administration

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Plastic is everywhere: In your home, your office, your school - and your ocean. Among the top 10 kinds of trash picked up during the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup were food wrappers, beverage bottles, grocery bags, straws, and take out containers, all made of plastic.

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What is a Drifter? A drifter, or drifting buoy, is a piece of scientific equipment that collects data on the ocean's surface. Drifters allow scientists to track ocean currents, changes in temperature, salinity, and other important components of the ocean's surface as they float freely and transmit information.

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Overview

Water moves from the ground to the atmosphere and then returns to the ground, however, the actual path water takes in its cycle is more complicated. There are many stops on water's journey. Students will learn how the water cycle works using 3-D paper craft activity.

SUPPLIES

Scissors, scotch tape or glue, colored pencils

PRINTED/AV MATERIAL

Water Cycle paper craft (pdf). With labels
Without labels (printed on 8½x14" paper)
Optional: full color version

TEACHER
PREPARATION

Regular copier paper can be used. For a sturdier model use card stock. The pdf can be scaled down to fit letter-size paper but the model will be very small and more difficult to assemble. You can bypass the coloring part of the activity by printing the full color version.

SAFETY FOCUS

Flash Flood Safety

Procedure

1. The paper craft consists of two sections: the 'earth' and the 'atmosphere'. First have students color their water cycle paper craft. They can use this image as a guide for color choices.

2. If using the un-labeled pdf have the students add labels while you discuss the function of each portion of the water cycle. (see discussion below). The 'surface flow' label in the mountain region should be added upside down so it will display correctly when the paper craft is assembled.

3. Carefully cut out both base and atmosphere sections. Cut only along solid lines. DO NOT cut dashed lines.

4. Fold paper craft along dashed lines.

5. Beginning with the base, line up tabs with folds and carefully tape or glue tabs to their corresponding surface. If using glue, use sparingly. Using too much glue will warp the paper.

6. Attach the atmosphere cutout to the back side of the paper craft.

7. Optional: glue small pieces of cotton balls over the clouds on the atmosphere cutout.

Folded full color version of the paper craft.

Discussion

The water cycle is more complicated than is depicted in typical diagrams. Often the diagrams show water evaporating over the ocean then moving onshore before precipitating. Actually, evaporation and precipitation occur all over the earth and can occur at the same time in the same location. This process is why humidity increases during precipitation and the liquid evaporates back into water vapor.

The water cycle and is divided into three main parts:

1. Moisture moving into the atmosphere

2. Moisture moving through the atmosphere

3. Moisture returning to the earth

Since water covers nearly 71% of the Earth's surface, the greatest source for moisture are these huge water bodies.

Evaporation is water changing from a liquid to a gas. Evaporation requires a source of heat. The sun is the primary engine for evaporation. On average, about 47 inches of water (120 cm) is evaporated into the atmosphere from the ocean each year. Your body's heat causes water on your skin to evaporate. That why you feel cold when you step out of a pool or shower. Your using your body's heat to dry off.

Sublimation is the change of state from ice, a solid, to water vapor, a gas, without becoming a liquid first. Given enough time, snow and ice will disappear by sublimation.

Transpiration is evaporation of water from plants and trees into the atmosphere. Nearly all (99%) the water that enters the roots transpires into the atmosphere.

Once in the atmosphere water vapor can undergo the following changes...

Condensation is the change of water vapor, a gas, into liquid. We see the end result of condensation as clouds which consists of huge numbers of tiny liquid drops. The clouds can also undergo evaporation, returning the liquid back into a gas.

Transportation is the motion of moisture as a result of the wind. Without this movement, the water evaporated over the ocean would not precipitate over land.

The moisture returns to the earth three ways...

Deposition changes water vapor directly into a solid (ice), bypassing the condensation process. This process is how frost forms on cloudless winter nights. When the sun rises, most of the frost will again evaporate or sublimate back into the atmosphere.

Precipitation returns water to the earth as rain, snow, ice pellets (sleet) and hail.

Infiltration is the movement of water into the ground from the surface. Simply put, the ground gets wet and muddy. The moisture then evaporates into the atmosphere or trees and plants use some of the moisture, which they later return to the atmosphere through transpiration.

The water returns to the ocean in one of two ways...

Percolation is water seeping down past the soil, deep into the ground water.

Surface Flow is water that does not move into the soil but instead runs off into creeks, streams, and rivers to flow back to the ocean.

All of these processes are happening constantly. What is left out of the water cycle above is the human and animal component. Moisture taken in by the body is used to move food and blood around our bodies then eliminated back into the environment in many different ways.

Building a Weather-Ready Nation

Flash floods are the deadliest natural disaster in the world. They are caused by stationary or slow-moving thunderstorms that produce heavy rain over a small area.

Hilly and mountainous areas are especially vulnerable to flash floods, where steep terrain and narrow canyons can funnel heavy rain into small creeks and dry ravines, turning them into raging walls of water. Even on the prairie, normally-dry draws and low spots can fill with rushing water during very heavy rain.

Take time to develop a flood safety plan-for home, work, or school, and wherever you spend time during the summer. The National Weather Service has additional information about flood safety and a brochure " Floods and Flash Floods...The Awesome Power".

Preparations at home and work:

Determine if you are in a flood-prone area. If you are, know where to go if the water starts to rise. Have an escape route if you have to leave quickly.

Make a safety kit containing: A flashlight and extra batteries, battery-powered weather radio receiver and commercial radio, extra food and water, first-aid supplies, canned food and a can opener, water (three gallons per person), extra clothing, and bedding. Don't forget special items for family members such as diapers, baby formula, prescription or essential medications, extra eyeglasses or hearing aids, and pet supplies.

Know how and when to shut off utilities: Electricity, gas, and water.

Seek sources for obtaining local warning information such as from cable TV or the NOAA Weather Radio.

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Learning Lesson: Water Cycle Paper Craft

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Water moves from the ground to the atmosphere and then returns to the ground, however, the actual path water takes in its cycle is more complicated. There are many stops on water's journey. Students will learn how the water cycle works using 3-D paper craft activity.