Supply watch A Columbus salt distributor says it is not accepting new bulk customers for the 2026–27 seasonPublished price A contractor price list shows white bulk salt at $135 a ton FOB ColumbusPublished price A Middletown yard lists ASTM highway salt at about $150 a ton, pickupNOAA normal Columbus averages about 28.2 inches of snow a season; Cincinnati about 23.3Ohio salt Cargill's mine under Lake Erie in Cleveland is about 1,800 feet deepEst. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during itSupply watch A Columbus salt distributor says it is not accepting new bulk customers for the 2026–27 seasonPublished price A contractor price list shows white bulk salt at $135 a ton FOB ColumbusPublished price A Middletown yard lists ASTM highway salt at about $150 a ton, pickupNOAA normal Columbus averages about 28.2 inches of snow a season; Cincinnati about 23.3Ohio salt Cargill's mine under Lake Erie in Cleveland is about 1,800 feet deepEst. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during it

Price figures are estimates from public bids and published price lists, not quotes. Where these numbers come from

Home › Snow & Ice Guide › How an Ohio winter unfolds

How an Ohio winter unfolds

Columbus and Cincinnati snowfall, freeze-thaw counts and the season month by month.

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A Central Ohio winter is a mix: moderate snow, frequent freezing rain, and plenty of freeze-thaw. Here's how a typical season tends to go in Columbus and Cincinnati. Any given year can differ.

Snowfall and freeze-thaw

PlaceAverage seasonal snowfallFreeze-thaw days a year
Columbus28.2 in68.0
Cincinnati23.3 in69.7

Snowfall: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals.1 Freeze-thaw days: our count of days with a high above 32°F and a low below 32°F in NOAA GHCN-Daily records, 1991–2020 average.2

The season, month by month

November: line up supply

First freezes on bridges and shaded drives. This is when pre-buys and priority lists fill up.

December: first snows and ice

Pavement is often still warm. Brine ahead; rock salt works on most events.

January to February: the core of winter

Most of the snow, the coldest pavement and the most freezing rain. Treated salt and calcium on walks.

March: freeze-thaw

Warm days and cold nights. Watch drainage and refreeze around piles.

Next in the guideStorm-readiness checklist →

Sources

  1. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals
  2. NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network-Daily (GHCN-Daily), station daily max/min temperatures 1991–2020

Figures are quoted from the sources above. Conditions on your sites vary; follow product labels and your own calibration.

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Talk to people who've run plows at 3 a.m. We know what it's like when the shed is empty, the radar is lit up and your clients expect dry walks by 7. Tell us what you need, and you'll get a straight answer and a written quote, not a sales pitch.

  • Fast delivery. Bulk dropped at your site, sized to your season, so you don't need a salt barn.
  • Storm-night loading. Extended loading hours when a big event hits.
  • Storm-priority list. Get in line for resupply before the storm, not during it.
  • See it first. Ask for a yard visit and see the treated salt in person.
  • Fall pre-buy and seasonal contracts. Lock in tons before the first flake.

Quotes are answered by a wholesale supplier serving Columbus, Cincinnati and Central and Southwest Ohio. Final prices, minimums and delivery area are on your written quote.

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