Cincinnati sits on the Ohio River in southwestern Ohio, on hills above the river valley opposite Kentucky at approximately 39.10°N, 84.51°W. It has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa/Cfa) — with hot, humid summers and cold winters — lying on the transition between the Midwest and the humid subtropical South.

Summer, from June to August, is hot and humid, with July the warmest month — average highs around 30°C — and heatwaves that can exceed 35°C, made muggy by Gulf moisture drawn north. It is the wettest season, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and the river valley traps warm, humid air, giving hazy, sultry days.

Winter, from December to February, is cold and often grey, with January the coldest month — average highs around 4°C and lows near -5°C. Snow falls, around 60 cm a year, but thaws are frequent, and the season alternates between cold Canadian air and mild, damp Gulf air, giving sharp swings and occasional ice storms.

Cincinnati receives around 1,050–1,100 mm of precipitation a year, spread through every month with a spring and summer maximum from thunderstorms; the Ohio River can flood dramatically when heavy rain falls across its vast catchment. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Cincinnati sits on the climatic frontier between the cold Midwest and the humid subtropical South, so its weather can swing sharply as Canadian and Gulf air masses contest the Ohio valley — a battleground that produces both severe summer thunderstorms and the freezing rain and ice storms of winter.

To follow any single measurement in Cincinnati more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.