Columbus record low for January 19 remains minus 22 degrees, set during the 1994 cold wave
A single date, an enduring benchmark in Columbus weather records
Columbus’ record low temperature for Jan. 19 stands at −22°F, a mark set in 1994 during a major Arctic outbreak that pushed temperatures across the Midwest to extreme levels. The same day also produced a record cold daytime high in the city: −1°F, underscoring how the cold persisted beyond the overnight minimum.
That Jan. 19, 1994 reading is widely recognized as one of the most significant cold-weather benchmarks in modern local records. It also coincides with a broader North American cold wave that established numerous daily minimum temperature records across multiple states.
How Jan. 19, 2026 compares to the historical record
On Jan. 19, 2026, central Ohio experienced a notable cold morning, with temperatures dropping below zero in the Columbus area. Even so, the air temperature remained far above the city’s Jan. 19 record of −22°F. Forecast conditions for the day called for a rebound into the teens, with wind chills substantially lower than the air temperature at times.
While wind chill can increase cold-related risk by accelerating heat loss from exposed skin, it does not change the official air-temperature record. Official record lows are based on measured air temperature at the reporting station, not “feels like” values.
What the Jan. 19 record says about Columbus’ coldest extremes
Although −22°F is the record for Jan. 19, it also ranks among the lowest temperatures observed in Columbus in the modern period of airport-based observations. The city’s all-time minimum is lower: −23°F, recorded on Jan. 13, 1912. In other words, the Jan. 19 record is near the bottom edge of what has been observed in the city’s historical dataset, but it is not the absolute minimum ever measured.
Key context for readers tracking records
Record low for Jan. 19 in Columbus: −22°F (1994).
Record cold high for Jan. 19 in Columbus: −1°F (1994).
Columbus all-time minimum temperature: −23°F (Jan. 13, 1912).
Temperature records are tied to measured air temperature at official observing sites; wind chill is reported separately as an impact metric.
Why the 1994 benchmark remains difficult to match
The Jan. 1994 outbreak combined exceptionally cold air with sustained subfreezing conditions, producing both a deep overnight minimum and a daytime high that remained below zero. That combination helps explain why a morning dip below zero in 2026, while impactful for daily life, did not approach the long-standing Jan. 19 record.