Subzero temperatures in Cleveland can happen during any winter season, but it’s not always a guarantee.
Subzero temperatures in Cleveland can occur in any winter season, although it is not a certainty. This year, there have only been two instances of such extreme cold, a lower number compared to the average of 3.2 subzero days annually.
The record for the highest number of subzero days in one year was established in 1977, with a remarkable 20 days of temperatures below zero. Conversely, Cleveland has experienced years with zero subzero days, such as in 2024, 2023, and 2021.
Historically, the earliest date Cleveland has dipped below zero degrees Fahrenheit was Dec. 2, 1976, while the latest occurrence was March 21, 1885.
Examining individual months, January 1977 holds the record with 14 days below zero, the highest for any January in the historical data. February 2015 had the most subzero days with 10, while March 1960 had three such days. In December 1989, there were seven days below zero, setting a record for that month.
The city’s longest stretch of consecutive subzero days occurred from Feb. 8-13, 1899, spanning six days in the deep freezer.
While Cleveland’s winters have grown less frigid in recent years, these records highlight the city’s history of enduring harsh arctic blasts.
