The climate of Toledo, Ohio is one typical of cities in the Great Lakes region of the United States but is slightly warmer than any other city on the lakes. Overall, Toledo experiences a humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification Dfa), which is characterized by four distinct seasons and large swings in temperature and precipitation both between seasons and over shorter periods of time as well. For example, temperatures may vary as much in one week as average temperatures do in an entire season. However, the city's climate is moderated by its proximity to Lake Erie, which ensures that the temperature range is more restricted than cities at similar latitude. Unpredictable weather events still make up a major part of the Toledo climate, however.

[edit] Temperature

Like other cities with continental climates, temperatures vary greatly between seasons in Toledo. The warmest month of the year is July, when high temperatures average 87°F (30°C), and low temperatures average 68°F (20°C)^[1]. The coldest month during the year is January, when high temperatures average only 33°F (1°C) and overnight low temperatures average 22°F (-5°C)^[1].It might be noted these temperature averages are for downtown Toldeo, whereas the much more rural Toledo Express Airport is used to represent national data for the area. The variability of temperatures between seasons is evident in the 26°F (15°C) drop in average high temperatures between September and November.

The warmest temperature ever recorded in Toledo was 105°F (41°C), on July 31, 1999^[2]. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was -16°F (-27°C) on January 21, 1985^[3].

[edit] Precipitation

Toledo, like many other cities in the northern United States, experience a variety of forms of precipatation throughout the year. Summer it is only rain, mostly derived from thunderstorms. Winter snowfall and mixed precipitation including sleet, freezing rain, and ice. Spring and autumn see periods of lighter rain, often for long duration. Snow and mixed precipitation can also occur in early spring or late autumn, rarely accumulating.

In Toledo, the wettest month of the year is June, when 3.84 inches (97.5mm) of precipitation falls, the great majority from thunderstorms ^[1]. The driest month of the year is January, when only 2.00 inches (51.2mm) of precipitation falls, mostly in the form of snow but also consisting of rain and mixed precipitation^[1]. An average winter in Toledo has 37.1 inches (0.94 m) of snowfall^[4].

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Average and record temperatures and precipitation, Toledo, Ohio, The Weather Channel. [1]
2. ^ Daily average and record temperatures for July, Toledo, Ohio, The Weather Channel. [2]
3. ^ Daily average and record temperatures for January, Toledo, Ohio, The Weather Channel. [3]
4. ^ Average annual snowfall by month in selected locations, NOAA. [4]