As it grows colder in The Land, locals dread the freezing white terror that lurks right around the corner. Since we have been seeing snow flurries as of late, many have inevitably found themselves reminiscing on the ghosts of Cleveland winters past. With a norm of unusual weather patterns, it is no wonder winter in Cleveland offers so much to talk about. These nine winter storms in Cleveland, however, were all the talk of the town in their day, and they have left a mark on the Clevelanders who experienced them.

1. The Great Lakes Storm of 1913

SalomonCeb/Wikimedia Commons
This storm was known by those afflicted as the "Big Blow" or the "White Hurricane," and it truly lived up to its reputation. From November 6 to November 11, the Great Lakes region braced as hurricane-force winds battered the area. As you can guess, this was no ordinary storm; it was an extratropical cyclone, a weather pattern that rained whiteout snow squalls over Cleveland. Twenty-two inches of snow coated The Land by November 11, and locals were snowed in without power for days. Millions of dollars worth of vessels and cargo were lost on the Great Lakes, and an astonishing 250 lives were lost.

2. The Winter That Wasn't

Flicikr/Eric
The winter season between 1918 and 1919 was a memorable one for Clevelanders of the era. The season was slightly warmer with an average temperature of 39.4 degrees. Only 13 days would soar above 50 that season, yet locals experienced only 8.8 inches of snow. That's a long way from our average 60 inches of snow, but locals weren't complaining!

3. The Thanksgiving Storm of 1950

Flickr/Tim Evanson
On Thanksgiving Day, the temperature was a brisk seven degrees Fahrenheit. Low pressure moved in from Virginia the following day, resulting in a blizzard that would batter the region until November 28. Twenty-one inches of snow fell, which might have been more manageable if more than 10,000 abandoned cars hadn't blocked snow removal. The storm cost the city over $1 million and 23 lives.

4. Cleveland's Infamous Blizzard of 1978

Flickr/SergeiF
On January 26, a blizzard rolled in over Cleveland. As its eye passed over the city, the National Weather Service recorded a barometric pressure of 28.28, a level that is lower than that of most hurricanes. What kind of havoc came with the lowest barometric pressure level in state history? Wind chills of -100 degrees, winds at 50 miles per hour, paired with gusts at an unbelievable 82 miles per hour, and a federal disaster. Roads closed, and along with travel, businesses closed down for days as well. Some areas experienced food shortages, and Ohio experienced an unfortunate loss of 51 lives.

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5. A Ch-ch-chilly Day in Cleveland

Andre Bernier/YouTube




If you lived anywhere between Ohio and the Gulf Coast, chances are that you remember January 19, 1994. An area of high pressure, unusually cold and vast, of course, swooped in over the Ohio Valley. Clevelanders had their furnaces and fireplaces generating heat non-stop, but they couldn't stave off the creep of bitter cold as temperatures dropped to a historic -20 degrees. Though it is remembered as the coldest day in Cleveland history, locals were lucky: in the Akron area, thermometers reported a nippy -25 degrees, and further away, in quaint Millersburg, temperatures dropped to 35 below zero. Brrr!

6. The Snowiest Season

Flickr/Chris Ballance
Each year, snowfall for the City of Cleveland is measured at the Cleveland Hopkins Airport. Our average annual snowfall is 60 inches, but in the 2004 to 2005 season, that number was nearly doubled:117.9 inches of snow was dumped upon the region that season, making it the snowiest in Cleveland history.

7. A windy week in December of 2010

Flickr/Erik Drost
In December of 2010, unusually cold weather blasted the eastern half of the nation. On December 13, an unrelenting wind began to blow over Lake Erie, churning the cold waters of the Great Lake for days on end. As waves crashed against the Cleveland Harbor West Lighthouse, a curious thing occurred. The lighthouse became encased, layer by layer, in an icy coating. This unusual winter feature enthralled locals, who gathered along the coast with cameras to capture the unusual moment in time.

8. The Freezing February of 2015

Erik Drost/Flickr
February of 2015 was brutal, and many Clevelanders will never forget the year. By February 19, the temperature had already dipped below zero seven times since New Year's Day. The following day was bitterly cold, and it went down in history as one of the coldest days Clevelanders have ever experienced. Temperatures dropped to 17 below zero, and an unforgiving wind chill made it feel like it was -25 or colder. If you found yourself caught in the unintentional wind tunnel that is Downtown, your experience doubtlessly chilled you to the bone.

9. Cleveland's Warmest Winter

Flickr/John
February of 2017 broke records, but not for the same reason as these other unforgettable winter days. February of 2017 was the warmest we have ever experienced. The month's average temperature was 41 degrees, beating the previous 37.5 degrees that had once seemed so generous. The warming was caused by a combination of strong southerly winds bringing in tropical weather from the Gulf of Mexico and a warm front. Amazingly, Cleveland recorded its warmest-ever February day that year, with temperatures soaring to 75 degrees on February 24.

Winter is a season we’ve all learned to live with, but those occasional 70-degree February days ensure that we never fully adapt to winter in Ohio. Fortunately, the landscape is beautiful during the winter, making the hectic season more tolerable and somehow worthwhile.

Ready for that snow to stick? You’ll fall in love with these incredible winter destinations across Cleveland. If you’re looking for a great place to stay while visiting Cleveland, we highly recommend the always-reliable Vrbo, where you can rent out entire homes ranging from sleep apartments to cozy cabins.

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More to Explore

Winter in Cleveland

Sara Dager | December 14, 2023

What are some of the best winter hikes in Cleveland? 

You may dread the thought of going outside in the winter, but some layers and a warm drink can make winter hikes in Cleveland a delight. An extra plus is that the trails will be more empty. Just be sure to check the weather conditions and make sure the trails are safe before you head out:

  • Squire’s Lane Trail at North Chagrin Reservation
  • Indian Spring Trail at Munroe Falls Metro Park
  • All Purpose Trail at Rocky River Reservation
  • Glenridge Loop at Euclid Creek Reservation
  • Upper Edgewater Park Loop at Edgewater Park
  • The Ledges Trail at Liberty Park

Which road trips through Cleveland should I go on? 

If the winter is giving you some cabin fever, a road trip through Cleveland is a great way to get out of the house without braving too much of the cold. Here are a few of the best ones to go on:

  • The natural wonders in Cleveland road trip brings you to eight breathtaking spots across the city including waterfalls and a forest.
  • This road trip to the most scenic spots in Cleveland only requires three hours of driving but will bring you to nine exciting spots including parks, an arboretum, and public art.
  • The Cleveland Metroparks road trip takes you to 13 places within this exciting collection of parks. This trip requires a fair amount of driving so it's perfect for a weekend getaway.

Are there any fun things to do in the winter in Cleveland? 

If you want to make the cold weather and grey skies more bearable, here are a few exciting things to do in the winter in Cleveland that you can check out:

  • Visit the ice gardens in the Lake Eerie snow belt. The vegetation around the lake freezes and it is stunning to admire.
  • Ply Polar Putt Putt at Lock 3. This fun family activity is indoors and will entertain the kids for hours.
  • Check out Squires Castle. This Cleveland classic is gorgeous all year but it really shines in the snow.

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