Columbus Township sits near the bottom of U.S. towns for July heat
January mornings start at about 8°. Winter and summer sit 69° apart. Plan time outside from June to September, when highs sit at 67–77°.
A year in Columbus Township at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Columbus Township’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Columbus Township’s place in Michigan beside it.
What a year in Columbus Township feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 135 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 21 and the first by October 5. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Newberry Correctional Facility, MI, 13 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Columbus Township’s center in zone 5a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −19°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
About 34 inches of rain a year
October is the wettest month and February the driest.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Columbus Township
97% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Newberry Correctional Facility, MI.
Living with Columbus Township’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
135 frost-free days in zone 5a. The last frost comes by May 21 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 5.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, July, August and September. 153 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Columbus Township from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (85%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 5%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Columbus Township and its neighbors
Seney Township the hottest July afternoons (78°, 1° warmer). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Columbus Township averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.4°).
A bigger shift than in 56% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Columbus Township compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Columbus Township’s place among Michigan’s.
Columbus Township weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Columbus Township’s center. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23° | 8° | 2.3" | 4° – 25° |
| February | 26° | 8° | 1.8" | 1° – 29° |
| March | 36° | 16° | 1.8" | 14° – 38° |
| April | 48° | 28° | 2.3" | 30° – 45° |
| May | 62° | 39° | 2.8" | 44° – 57° |
| June | 73° | 48° | 3.0" | 56° – 66° |
| July | 77° | 53° | 3.6" | 58° – 70° |
| August | 75° | 53° | 2.9" | 60° – 68° |
| September | 67° | 47° | 3.8" | 50° – 62° |
| October | 53° | 36° | 4.1" | 39° – 51° |
| November | 39° | 26° | 3.0" | 25° – 39° |
| December | 29° | 16° | 2.6" | 12° – 31° |
| Year | 51° | 31° | 33.9" |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 1° to 29°. August is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Where Columbus Township’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Columbus Township’s center.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Newberry Correctional Facility, MI, 13 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Columbus Township’s climate
What is the weather like in Columbus Township?
A typical July afternoon reaches 77°, a January night drops to 8°. Colder January nights than 96% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 97% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Columbus Township in winter?
February nights average 8°. About 178 nights a year reach 32° or below and 21 reach 0° or below. In the coldest February of the last 30 years the month averaged 1°.
How hot does it get in Columbus Township?
July, with a typical high of 77°. 90° days are rare: none in a normal year at Newberry Correctional Facility, MI.
When is the first and last frost in Columbus Township?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 21 and the first fall frost by October 5, about 135 frost-free days, at Newberry Correctional Facility, MI.
What growing zone is Columbus Township in?
Zone 5a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −19°.
What is the best time of year to visit Columbus Township?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Columbus Township getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.4° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 56% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Columbus Township.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.