Milwaukee, Wisconsin Weather
Fireflies rise from the lawn. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Milwaukee weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Overcast——87°55°—
- FridayJun 5Light Rain83%0.27″75°68°-12°
- SaturdayJun 6Showers48%0.13″84°64°+9°
- SundayJun 7Foggy——71°57°-13°
- MondayJun 8Overcast22%—76°58°+5°
- TuesdayJun 9Light Drizzle24%—78°62°+2°
- WednesdayJun 10Light Showers18%0.19″78°63°0°
PM2.5 at 11.4 µg/m³ (AQI 55) with a 0.92 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI down 17 over the last 6 hours — air quality is improving sharply.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 35 now. With UV 3.3 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 16 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 35
- UV peak
- 3.3 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 16
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 11.4 µg/m³ (AQI 55) with a 0.92 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.92
- Wind
- calm
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- stagnant smoke
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 4:32 AM
- Moonset
- 1:43 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies rise from the lawn
Milwaukee at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 14°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: May 4 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — Milwaukee
SPC has placed Milwaukee in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.
- TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
- TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
- DAY 3MRGLMarginal Risk
Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | — | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | — | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July stands as Milwaukee's warmest month (~73°F mean) while January brings the coldest temperatures (~22°F). June delivers peak rainfall at 4.8 inches, contrasting sharply with January's modest 1.5 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22° | 1.5″ | 4 |
| February | 25° | 1.5″ | 4 |
| March | 35° | 1.8″ | 4 |
| April | 46° | 3.7″ | 7 |
| May | 58° | 3.7″ | 8 |
| June | 68° | 4.8″ | 7 |
| July | 73° | 3.6″ | 6 |
| August | 71° | 3.7″ | 6 |
| September | 64° | 3.0″ | 6 |
| October | 51° | 2.7″ | 5 |
| November | 39° | 2.0″ | 5 |
| December | 28° | 1.7″ | 5 |
Regional context
Milwaukee belongs to the warm-summer humid continental climate region. Cities within this zone experience comparable temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions.
Similar climates: Madison, WI, Appleton, WI, Green Bay, WI, Racine, WI, Kenosha, WI.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the first blooms of wild lupine across Wisconsin's sandy soils, their purple spikes emerging as soil temperatures consistently reach 60°F.
American robins begin their dawn chorus in earnest during the third week of April, when daylight extends past 13 hours.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Milwaukee?
- Spring's final frost in Milwaukee typically occurs around mid-May, while the first fall frost returns around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Milwaukee?
- June ranks as the wettest month, delivering approximately 4.8 inches of rain on average. The city's annual precipitation totals roughly 34 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Milwaukee?
- July typically brings the warmest temperatures, averaging about 73°F.
- What is the coldest month in Milwaukee?
- January delivers the coldest temperatures, averaging about 22°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Milwaukee?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost (mid-May). Warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after this date.
- How many rainy days does Milwaukee get?
- Milwaukee experiences approximately 65 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Milwaukee?
- Milwaukee's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature. The USDA's online lookup tool provides current zone designation when you enter the city ZIP code.
Climate
Milwaukee, Wisconsin experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. Winter temperatures in January typically hover near 22°F, while July averages reach 73°F — creating a 51°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals approximately 34 inches, distributed across roughly 65 rainy days throughout the year.
Geographic factors including latitude (43.1°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation determine the rhythm of seasons here. These elements influence plant growth cycles, frost timing, and daily weather patterns.