Madison, WI weather in April
Madison is cool in April, with frequent rain: highs average 57°F and nights drop to about 36°F. There are about 13 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 2.6 in.
- Normal high
- 57°F
- Normal low
- 36°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 3.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.6 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How April changes from start to finish
| April 1 | April 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 51°F | 63°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 41°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 43% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:39 am / 7:23 pm | 5:52 am / 7:57 pm |
| Daylight | 12.7 h | 14.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical April day
- 6 am39°Fdew point 33°F
- 9 am47°Fdew point 34°F
- Noon53°Fdew point 34°F
- 3 pm55°Fdew point 34°F
- 6 pm52°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 pm46°Fdew point 35°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Madison Dane Rgnl Airport (6 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F7 of 30
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 30
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 30
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow13 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below10 of 30
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 30
Average days per April, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in April
Normal precipitation is 3.8 in; a dry April brings about 2.8 in and a wet one about 4.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 2.6 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How April varies from year to year
- Warmest April, 1991-20202010: average high 64°F
- Coolest April2018: average high 48°F
- Wettest April1999: 6.9 in
- Driest April2005: 1.7 in
- Highest reading87°F (April 15, 2002)
- Lowest reading10°F (April 9, 2003)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
April compared with March and May
| March | April | May | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 44°F | 57°F | 69°F |
| Normal low | 25°F | 36°F | 47°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 7 | 15 |
| Daylight | 11.9 h | 13.4 h | 14.7 h |
Highs change by +13°F from March and +12°F into May.
Nearby alternatives in April
- Warmer: Davenport, IA123 mi · high 63°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Sister Bay, WI185 mi · high 47°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Sister Bay, WI185 mi · high 47°F · 10 wet days
How Madison ranks in April
- Normal high312th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 5 in Wisconsin
- Wet days335th driest of 378
- Comfortable days250th most of 340
What to pack for Madison in April
- A warm jacket – lows near 36°F, highs near 57°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 13 days
Heating and cooling
April has 562 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Madison in April?
The normal high is 57°F and the normal low is 36°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest April reading was 10°F (April 9, 2003).
Does it rain a lot in Madison in April?
About 13 days in April have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.8 in. The wettest April in 1991-2020 was in 1999 (6.9 in); the driest was in 2005 (1.7 in).
Does it snow in Madison in April?
Yes. Normal snowfall in April is 2.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is April a good time to visit Madison?
April ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for Madison (58 out of 100). It has about 7 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Madison Dane Rgnl Airport (USW00014837), 5.5 mi NNE of the city center, 866 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Dane Co Regional-Truax Field Airport (726410-14837), 5.5 mi NNE of the city center, 859 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).