Honestly, if you're standing outside in Columbus or Cleveland right now, you don't need a thermometer to tell you it's cold. You just need to feel that biting wind hitting your face. Today, January 17, 2026, the temperature in Ohio is sitting right at a crisp 33°F.
But here’s the kicker: it doesn't actually feel like 33 degrees. Thanks to a 10 mph wind whipping in from the southwest, the "feels like" temperature is actually hovering around 25°F. That’s the difference between "I should wear a coat" and "I can't feel my ears."
We're looking at a pretty classic mid-January day for the Buckeye State. It's cloudy, it's damp, and there’s a light dusting of snow currently falling across much of the region. If you’re driving on I-71 or I-77, you’ve probably noticed the gray sky that seems to just hang there, typical of an Ohio winter.
The Breakdown: What’s Happening Today
If you’re planning your day, don't let that 33-degree high fool you into thinking it's going to stay "mild" (by January standards, anyway). We're actually at the high point for the day right now.
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- Current Temp: 33°F
- Wind Chill: 25°F
- Humidity: 93% (Yeah, it’s that heavy, wet cold)
- The Outlook: Light snow is expected to continue through the morning with a 20% chance of accumulation.
Tonight is when things get actually serious. The temperature is forecasted to plummet down to 11°F. That is a 22-degree drop from the daytime high. If you have pets or sensitive plants, you'll want them inside way before the sun goes down.
Why Ohio Weather is So Moody
Ohio's geography is basically a playground for competing air masses. You’ve got the cold, dry air coming down from Canada and the warm, moist air trying to creep up from the Gulf of Mexico. They usually meet right over the Ohio Valley, which is why we get these weird "slushy" days where it can’t decide if it wants to be rain or snow.
This year, the 2025-26 winter has been influenced by a transitioning La Niña. According to the National Weather Service, this often leads to wetter-than-average winters for us. We’ve seen that lately with higher humidity levels—today it's at 93%—which makes the cold feel like it’s seeping into your bones rather than just sitting on your skin.
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City by City: It’s Not the Same Everywhere
Ohio is a big state, and the temperature in Ohio can vary wildly depending on if you're near the lake or down by the river.
In Cleveland, the lake effect is always the wildcard. While the rest of the state might just see clouds, the "snowbelt" in the northeast often gets hammered. Today, Cleveland is seeing a similar 33°F, but the wind gusts near the shore are making it feel significantly sharper.
Down in Cincinnati, it’s often a few degrees warmer, but today they are sharing in the sub-freezing "feels like" temperatures. Columbus, being right in the middle, serves as the state's weather baseline. When people ask what the temperature in Ohio is, the Columbus reading is usually the most "honest" representation of the state's average.
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Looking Ahead: The Big Freeze
Don't get used to this 33-degree "warmth." A strong cold front is pushing through the Midwest. By Monday, we could be looking at high temperatures that struggle to get out of the teens.
The humidity is expected to drop as the clear air moves in tonight. While "clear" sounds nice, in an Ohio winter, clear skies usually mean the heat is escaping into the atmosphere, leaving us with those "frigid" 11°F nights.
Pro-tip for Ohioans today:
Check your tire pressure. These 20-degree swings in temperature cause the air in your tires to contract, usually triggering that annoying dashboard light just when you’re already running late for work.
Actionable Steps for the Next 24 Hours
- Drip those faucets: Since it's dropping to 11°F tonight, if you live in an older house or have pipes on an exterior wall, let them drip.
- Layering is key: Since the "real feel" is 25°F but the actual air is 33°F, you'll sweat if you move too much in a heavy parka. Go with a moisture-wicking base layer.
- Salt the walk now: With the humidity at 93% and temps dropping tonight, any moisture on the ground is going to turn into a sheet of ice by 9:00 PM.
- Check your emergency kit: We're in the heart of winter. Ensure you have a blanket and a small shovel in your trunk if you’re traveling across the state today.
The temperature in Ohio today is a reminder that winter is finally in full swing. Stay warm out there.