Cleveland receives all four seasons with hot summers, cold winters and plentiful rainfall. It sits on the shore of Lake Erie in Ohio and the large body of water means the city is prone to foggy weather. It is also on the southern fringe of the USâs âTornado Alleyâ, with the period of greatest risk lying between March and June. The city has a humid continental climate.
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Summer, from June till September, is hot and sunny but also the wettest time of year. In the daytime it usually gets into the mid 20s. The four months have average highs of 26°C, 28°C, 27°C and 23°C respectively. In the peak of summer temperatures in the 30s arenât too rare and high humidity can make it a little uncomfortable. You could always take a dip in the lake but you might want to check up on current water quality before jumping in (look for Nowcast which provides daily water safety information). Lake Erie gets into the 20s early in the season and stays swimmable into September. Despite the humidity it does tend to cool off quite a bit at night and in June and September it can even be a little chilly. Sunshine levels are at their best in July which sees an average of ten hours per day but it is generally quite clear throughout the season. Heavy rainstorms, sometimes electrical and sometimes quite ferocious, make this Clevelandâs wet season, but only around ten days per month actually see any rain.
Autumn, in October and November, cools down quite quickly with the average high temperature dropping to 17°C in October and 11°C in November. Night times can get very cold and in November it can dip below freezing. The lake, the smallest of the Great Lakes, looses its heat fast. At the start of the season it dries up a bit but November sees frequent showers. Sunshine levels drop; an average of five hours per day in October is not so bad while three in November can be a bit gloomy. In November the lake begins to freeze and snow often falls towards the end of the month.
Winter, from December till February, is generally cold and snowy but it depends on where you are in the city as there is great regional variation caused by the shape of Lake Erie. The average high temperature drops to 3°C in December, 0°C in January and 2°C in February. Night time temperatures rarely creep above freezing. The average lows are -5°C, -9°C and -8°C respectively. Lake Erie freezes over early in the season. The area is known for its white winters and Cleveland receives an annual average of 156cm of snow each year. However, eastern areas and those closest to the lake tend to be very snowy, while outside of this âsnow beltâ snow cover is often very light.
Spring, from March till May, remains cool at first but then heats up dramatically. Snow continues to fall into mid spring when night time temperatures finally creep above freezing. The average high hurdles from 8°C in March to 14°C in April and a comparitively baking 20°C in May. Even in May, though, the night time average low is 8°C so youâll need some extra layers. Rainfall levels increase as the season progresses with lighter showers at the start of the season becoming heavier as summer approaches. Weather is highly changeable throughout the season and April and May are the peak months of the tornado season so be prepared for some severe weather.