Cleveland, on the southern shore of Lake Erie, features a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons: cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. The city experiences significant lake-effect snowfall, moderate rainfall, and brisk winds. With dramatic seasonal contrasts, Cleveland is a dynamic destination for cultural events, outdoor activities, and waterfront exploration year-round.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Cleveland’s climate is shaped by its proximity to Lake Erie and its continental location, resulting in notable seasonal contrasts. Winters (December–February) are cold and snowy, with average highs of 1–3°C and lows around -5°C. January is the coldest month, and temperatures can occasionally plunge below -17°C during cold snaps. Lake-effect snow is common, especially on the city’s east side, with annual snowfall averaging 137–165 cm. Days are short and often cloudy, with just 3–4 hours of sunshine and about 9–10 hours of daylight. Winds are moderate to strong, averaging 14–20 km/h, and humidity is high, making the cold feel more intense.
Summers (June–August) are warm, humid, and lively, with average highs of 26–28°C and lows of 16–18°C. July is the warmest month, and thunderstorms are frequent, especially in late afternoons. Rainfall is moderate, with June and July among the wettest months (90–100 mm), and humidity can make the heat feel more intense. Lake Erie warms to 23–25°C in July and August, making swimming possible at city beaches. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with rapidly changing weather, mild to warm temperatures (10–22°C), and frequent rain showers. May and September are especially pleasant, offering comfortable weather and vibrant city life. Cleveland receives about 1,040–1,140 mm of precipitation annually and enjoys 1,800–2,200 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are briskest in autumn and winter, and sudden weather changes are common, especially near the lake.
| Average climate data for Cleveland, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | -0 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 26 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -6 | -5 | -1 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 9 | 3 | -1 | -6 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 33 | 29 | 35 | 35 | 40 | 45 | 43 | 38 | 34 | 47 | 29 | 36 | 445 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 8 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 151 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 81 | 70 | 24 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 55 | 277 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 16 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 58 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 84 | 86 | 80 | 79 | 77 | 77 | 74 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 80 | 78 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 18 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 12 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 74 | 69 | 55 | 47 | 42 | 33 | 28 | 27 | 35 | 46 | 55 | 69 | 48 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
The best time to visit Cleveland is in late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October), when temperatures are mild (16–24°C), rainfall is moderate, and the city is vibrant with festivals, outdoor events, and beautiful autumn foliage. These months offer comfortable weather for sightseeing, waterfront activities, and exploring Cleveland’s parks and neighbourhoods.
The least favourable time to visit Cleveland is from December to February, when temperatures are lowest, days are shortest, and frequent snow, wind, and cold can limit outdoor activities. While winter offers festive events and snowy scenery, lake-effect snow and icy conditions may disrupt travel and outdoor plans.
Cleveland has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Rain and snow fall year-round, with lake-effect snow common in winter and thunderstorms frequent in summer.
The best time to visit is late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October), when the weather is mild, rainfall is moderate, and the city is lively with festivals and outdoor activities.
Yes, Cleveland averages 137–165 cm (54–65 inches) of snow annually, with the heaviest amounts east of the city due to lake-effect snow. Snow is common from November to March.
Summer highs in Cleveland typically reach 26–28°C, with July being the warmest month. Humidity is high, and thunderstorms are frequent, especially in late afternoons.
Lake Erie reaches 23–25°C in July and August, making swimming possible at city beaches. Water quality can be affected after heavy rain, so check advisories before swimming.
Winds in Cleveland are moderate to strong, averaging 14–20 km/h. Winds are briskest in autumn and winter, and sudden weather changes are common, especially near the lake.
Pack layers for changing weather, a rain jacket for showers, and sun protection for summer. In winter, bring warm clothing, a hat, gloves, and waterproof boots for snow and cold conditions.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (26.1 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (-0.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 13.2 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (18.7 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-5.9 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 6.8 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (24.7 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (0.5 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 11.6 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is October (46.6 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is November (29 mm). Over the whole year there are 445.1 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is October (15.6 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (7.7 days). Over the whole year there are 150.8 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (80.6 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 276.6 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (16.5 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are July, September and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 58.4 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is February (85.6 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (74 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 78.1 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (18.4 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (10.9 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 14.7 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (73.7 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (27.2 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 48.3 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 2.2 h). Over the whole year there are 6.3 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 6). The months with the lowest average UV index are February and December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.3.
