Climateby Month

Milwaukee vs Madison weather

Milwaukee, WI and Madison, WI · 76 mi apart

July highs: 82°F in Milwaukee, 82°F in Madison. January highs: 31°F and 27°F (Milwaukee is 4°F warmer). Milwaukee has about 125 wet days a year, Madison about 126. Muggy days: about 27 a year in Milwaukee, about 28 in Madison. Snow: 48.7 in a year in Milwaukee, 51.8 in in Madison.

Milwaukee, WI

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 31°F (-1°C), low 17°F (-8°C) 31° 17° February: normal high 34°F (1°C), low 20°F (-7°C) March: normal high 44°F (7°C), low 29°F (-2°C) April: normal high 55°F (13°C), low 38°F (3°C) May: normal high 67°F (19°C), low 48°F (9°C) June: normal high 77°F (25°C), low 58°F (14°C) July: normal high 82°F (28°C), low 65°F (18°C) 82° 65° August: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 64°F (18°C) September: normal high 74°F (23°C), low 56°F (13°C) October: normal high 61°F (16°C), low 45°F (7°C) November: normal high 48°F (9°C), low 33°F (1°C) December: normal high 36°F (2°C), low 23°F (-5°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May, June, September

Madison, WI

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 27°F (-3°C), low 12°F (-11°C) 27° 12° February: normal high 31°F (-1°C), low 15°F (-9°C) March: normal high 44°F (7°C), low 25°F (-4°C) April: normal high 57°F (14°C), low 36°F (2°C) May: normal high 69°F (21°C), low 47°F (8°C) June: normal high 79°F (26°C), low 57°F (14°C) July: normal high 82°F (28°C), low 62°F (17°C) 82° 62° August: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 60°F (16°C) September: normal high 73°F (23°C), low 51°F (11°C) October: normal high 60°F (16°C), low 40°F (4°C) November: normal high 45°F (7°C), low 29°F (-2°C) December: normal high 32°F (0°C), low 18°F (-8°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: May

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Milwaukee (January high 31°F vs January high 27°F)
  • Less snow: Milwaukee (48.7 in vs 51.8 in)
  • Longer growing season: Milwaukee (192 frost-free days vs 160 frost-free days)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high MilwaukeeAvg high MadisonWet days MilwaukeeWet days Madison
Winter (Dec-Feb)34°F30°F3230
Spring (Mar-May)55°F57°F3536
Summer (Jun-Aug)80°F80°F3031
Fall (Sep-Nov)61°F59°F2929

Side by side over a year

MilwaukeeMadison
Hot days (90°F+)99
Freezing nights123147
Muggy days2728
Comfortable days7581
Precipitation34.6 in37.1 in
Snowfall48.7 in51.8 in
Frost dateslast Apr 19, first Oct 29last May 1, first Oct 10
Daylight in June / December15.3 h / 9.1 h15.3 h / 9.1 h
Best monthsMay, June, SeptemberMay

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh MilwaukeeHigh MadisonWet days MilwaukeeWet days Madison
January31°F27°F1111
February34°F31°F1010
March44°F44°F1111
April55°F57°F1213
May67°F69°F1213
June77°F79°F1112
July82°F82°F1010
August80°F80°F109
September74°F73°F99
October61°F60°F1010
November48°F45°F1010
December36°F32°F1010

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • Milwaukee, WI: temperature from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (USW00014839), 5.8 mi S of the city center; precipitation from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (USW00014839). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Madison, WI: temperature from Madison Dane Rgnl Airport (USW00014837), 5.5 mi NNE of the city center; precipitation from Madison Dane Rgnl Airport (USW00014837). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.