El Niño in Columbus, OH
In 1 of 3 past super El Niño winters, Columbus was wetter than normal. It was warmer than normal in all 3.
The wettest of them was 2015–16: 9.29 inches, 107% of normal — 26th wettest of 78.
History from three winters, not a forecast. Measured at one NOAA station, Columbus; record since Dec–Feb 1948–49.
December–February in the three super El Niño winters
| Winter | Precipitation | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| 1982–83Dec 1982–Feb 1983 | 5.8 in−2.90 in vs normal · 67%10th driest of 78 | 35.5 °F+3.1 °F vs normal11th warmest of 78 |
| 1997–98Dec 1997–Feb 1998 | 6.94 in−1.76 in vs normal · 80%24th driest of 78 | 37.8 °F+5.4 °F vs normaltied 2nd warmest of 78 |
| 2015–16Dec 2015–Feb 2016 | 9.29 in+0.59 in vs normal · 107%26th wettest of 78 | 35.8 °F+3.4 °F vs normal10th warmest of 78 |
| Normal1991–2020 average | 8.7 in | 32.4 °F |
Ranks are within this station’s own record: 78 winters for precipitation, 78 for temperature. Source: NOAA NCEI Climate at a Glance, Columbus precipitation and temperature, as of November 11, 2026.
This winter: where NOAA’s outlook places Columbus
For December–February 2026–27, the Climate Prediction Center’s map places Columbus in equal chances of above-, near- or below-normal precipitation (no tilt either way), and in the 40–50% area for above-normal temperature.
Read from the contours of CPC’s seasonal outlook issued October 15, 2026 — the area the city falls in on a continental-scale map, not a forecast made for the city. CPC seasonal outlook maps. CPC reissues it monthly.
Read next
- What El Niño means for the Northeast and Midwest
- Ohio statewide in the same three winters (against a 1901–2000 normal, so the departures differ from this page)
- Winter 2026–27 outlook
- Current El Niño status
Other cities in the Ohio Valley climate region: Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Cleveland. All 50 cities