Madison, WI Weather Forecast

Madison, WI Weather
82°F Mostly Clear Current conditions
Mon — 66°F
Tue 81°F 66°F
Wed 83°F 66°F
Thu 80°F 61°F
Fri 76°F 60°F
Sat 77°F 64°F
Sun 77°F 60°F

Tonight: 66°F
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday: 81°F
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then showers and thunderstorms between 7am and 1pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: 66°F
A slight chance of rain showers between 1am and 2am, then patchy fog and a slight chance of rain showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday: 83°F
Patchy fog and a slight chance of rain showers before 7am, then a chance of rain showers and patchy fog between 7am and 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10am and 1pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: 66°F
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday: 80°F
A slight chance of rain showers between 7am and 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: 61°F
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. North wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: 76°F
A slight chance of rain showers after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday Night: 60°F
A slight chance of rain showers before 7pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 1am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday: 77°F
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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Madison, WI Weather by Season

Madison, Wisconsin experiences a classic humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfa), delivering four sharp and dramatically different seasons each year. With an annual average temperature of around 47°F, that single number hides extremes that range from bitter cold winters to warm, humid summers. Here is what to expect throughout the year.

❄️ Winter (December – February)

Madison winters are cold, snowy, and unrelenting. Average lows hover around 9–15°F, while daytime highs rarely climb above the upper 20s°F. January is the coldest month, with overnight lows averaging around 9°F. The city accumulates roughly 50 inches of snow annually, with December and January being the snowiest months. Wind chill can make temperatures feel dangerously low, so layering is essential — think thermal underlayers, a heavy insulated coat, waterproof boots, and a windproof outer shell. The driest month of the year is also January, with only about 1.25 inches of total precipitation.

🌸 Spring (March – May)

Spring arrives gradually and often reluctantly. March still brings an average of nearly 8 inches of snow alongside early rain showers, with temperatures ranging from 25°F to 45°F. By May, snow is essentially gone and highs climb into the mid-60s°F. Overall, spring delivers average temperatures between 35°F and 65°F and around 8 inches of precipitation across roughly 30 rainy days. As the ice melts on Lakes Mendota and Monona, outdoor enthusiasts flock back to the city’s parks, trails, and waterways. Late May and early June are considered among the best times to visit, offering mild conditions and lush scenery.

☀️ Summer (June – August)

Madison summers are warm, humid, and occasionally punctuated by thunderstorms. Average highs reach around 82°F in July — the warmest month — while overnight lows average a comfortable 59°F. The season sees the most sunshine, with July averaging over 10 hours of daylight per day. June is typically the wettest month of the year, with precipitation reaching around 4.6 inches. Despite the humidity, summer is the city’s most beloved season, perfect for boating, kayaking, and swimming across Madison’s five lakes. Thunderstorms can bring heavy bursts of rain, so keeping an eye on the forecast is wise.

🍂 Autumn (September – November)

Fall in Madison is crisp, colorful, and relatively mild in its early weeks. September temperatures range comfortably from the mid-60s°F down through the 40s°F by November. Autumn brings some of the most visually stunning weather of the year as the surrounding forests put on a brilliant foliage display. Early fall (September–October) is considered one of the best times to visit Madison, combining comfortable temperatures with lower precipitation and fewer crowds. By November, temperatures dip sharply and the first snowflakes of the season can begin to appear, signaling winter’s imminent return.

Key Climate Takeaways

  • Annual average temperature: 47°F
  • Hottest month: July (avg. high 82°F)
  • Coldest month: January (avg. low ~9°F)
  • Annual snowfall: ~50 inches
  • Wettest month: June (~4.6 inches of precipitation)
  • Best times to visit: Late May–June or September–October

MadisonClick Weather History:

Back in the 90s, MadisonClick was an email newsletter (called MadisOn-Line), and there was a call that came in from MadisonClick every morning to Channel 27. (WKOW) They would give us a weather report to type and send out to our list. So, we honor that by giving them a link on this page.

References:

Forecast provided by Weather.gov.