Columbus started Sunday, April 19, 2026, under gray skies and a chilly 45°F, but the day is expected to turn mostly sunny with an afternoon high near 57°F. The real headline, though, is a gusty west wind today and a brief but potentially damaging freeze early Monday that could spell trouble for gardens and exposed outdoor plumbing.
Sunday Gets Windy, Freeze Warning Early Monday
West winds will crank up through Sunday, with sustained speeds of about 7 to 15 mph and afternoon and evening gusts that could reach 30 mph. Outdoor plans may feel blustery, and anything lightweight on the porch or patio is worth securing.
According to the National Weather Service, a Freeze Warning is in effect from 2 AM to 10 AM EDT on Monday, April 20, 2026. Temperatures are expected to dip to around 32°F, and the combination of frost and freezing conditions could kill crops and damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Protect Plants and Plumbing
To ride out the pre-dawn chill, bring potted and tender plants indoors, cover vulnerable garden beds with frost cloth or blankets, and insulate outdoor faucets and exposed pipes. For practical local tips on shielding blossoms and crops from a hard freeze, check advice from Ohio State University Extension.
Fast Warmup Later This Week
The cold snap will be brief: highs rebound to about 73°F on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, then climb into the mid 70s and low 80s by Wednesday and Thursday, with a high near 81°F possible Thursday and around 84°F on Friday. That quick jump from freezing to almost summerlike warmth makes timing new plantings tricky this week, so if you can, hold off on moving tender summer plants outside until after the weekend.
