CLEVELAND — The time of year when Ohio usually sees its first snow is getting very close. Some higher elevations in Northeast Ohio typically see their first flakes before the end of the first week of November. Farther south and west, the first snow usually holds off until late November. A cooler shift is expected in a few days, which will have many people thinking about the colder season ahead.
Youngstown Usually Sees Snow First
Youngstown has the earliest average first snowfall among the state’s major cities, around November 5. Higher terrain in far Northeast Ohio cools faster in the fall. Cold air moving across Lake Erie can also help produce early snow showers.
Cleveland usually sees its first snow around November 10. Akron-Canton follows close behind, with an average date of November 12. These areas often get early flakes from lake-effect snow bands.
Mansfield and Toledo in Mid to Late November
Mansfield in north-central Ohio usually sees its first snow around November 19. The town sits on higher ground than much of the surrounding area. That helps it catch early-season flakes before nearby lower areas.
Toledo in northwest Ohio typically waits a little longer, until around November 23. Toledo sits at the western end of Lake Erie, where lake-effect snow is less common. Its first snow usually comes from passing storm systems instead.
Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati Wait Longer
Columbus usually sees its first snow around November 24, close to Thanksgiving. Dayton in southwest Ohio has an average date of November 25. These central and western cities are farther from the lakes and higher terrain…