Milwaukee, WI weather in April
Expect cool weather with frequent rain in Milwaukee in April, with highs near 55°F and lows near 38°F. Rain or snow falls on about 12 days. Snowfall averages about 2.1 in.
- Normal high
- 55°F
- Normal low
- 38°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.1 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How April changes from start to finish
| April 1 | April 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 49°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 43°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:33 am / 7:17 pm | 5:46 am / 7:51 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 am41°Fdew point 33°F
- 9 am47°Fdew point 34°F
- Noon50°Fdew point 35°F
- 3 pm50°Fdew point 34°F
- 6 pm48°Fdew point 33°F
- 9 pm45°Fdew point 34°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (6 mi away); average wind 11 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F4 of 30
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow12 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below6 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 3.9 in; a dry April brings about 2.8 in and a wet one about 4.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 2.1 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How April varies from year to year
- Warmest April, 1991-20202017: average high 60°F
- Coolest April2018: average high 47°F
- Wettest April2013: 7.4 in
- Driest April2005: 1.4 in
- Highest reading88°F (April 18, 2002)
- Lowest reading19°F (April 7, 2018)
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 | 55°F | 67°F |
| Normal low | 29°F | 38°F | 48°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 4 | 12 |
| Daylight | 11.9 h | 13.4 h | 14.7 h |
Highs change by +11°F from March and +12°F into May.
Nearby alternatives in April
- Warmer: Rockford, IL80 mi · high 60°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Sister Bay, WI153 mi · high 47°F · 10 wet days
How Milwaukee ranks in April
- Normal high339th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 5 in Wisconsin
- Wet days324th driest of 378
- Comfortable days304th most of 340
What to pack for Milwaukee in April
- A warm jacket – lows near 38°F, highs near 55°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
Frost in April
The last spring frost typically comes around Apr 19; in 1 year in 10 it comes after May 2. All frost dates for Milwaukee.
Heating and cooling
April has 566 heating degree days and 4 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Milwaukee in April?
The normal high is 55°F and the normal low is 38°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest April reading was 19°F (most recently on April 7, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Milwaukee in April?
About 12 days in April have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.9 in. The wettest April in 1991-2020 was in 2013 (7.4 in); the driest was in 2005 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in Milwaukee in April?
Yes. Normal snowfall in April is 2.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is April a good time to visit Milwaukee?
April ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Milwaukee (54 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (USW00014839), 5.8 mi S of the city center, 670 ft (55 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: General Mitchell International Airport (726400-14839), 5.8 mi S of the city center, 667 ft (52 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).