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Madison, Wisconsin Weather

Honeysuckle sweetens the night. Day 90 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Madison weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Madison, WI
Wednesday, June 17 at 3:27 AM
55
°
Overcast
Feels like
53°
Humidity
83%
Wind
4 mph
Sunrise
12:17 AM
Sunset
3:39 PM
Madison, WI
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastMadison, WI: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 54 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit with a 88% chance of precipitation at 10 AM.
L 54°H 66°
Madison, WI
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jun 17
    Heavy Rain
    88%
    1.5″
    66°54°—
  2. Thursday
    Jun 18
    Overcast
    19%
    —
    69°55°+3°
  3. Friday
    Jun 19
    Overcast
    13%
    —
    67°47°-2°
  4. Saturday
    Jun 20
    Overcast
    13%
    —
    70°53°+3°
  5. Sunday
    Jun 21
    Overcast
    56%
    —
    67°51°-3°
  6. Monday
    Jun 22
    Overcast
    46%
    —
    70°48°+3°
  7. Tuesday
    Jun 23
    Light Drizzle
    12%
    0.02″
    67°54°-3°
Madison, WI
Next 24 hours · Cool now
52°60°68°12a6a12p6pnow 54°high 66°low 54°PRECIP %
Madison, WI
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSW
212° · backing 42°
Direction
SSW
212°
Sustained
4
mph
Gust
9
mph
Peak 24h
26
avg 9
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 9 · pk 26 @ 4:00p
010203040MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7B8-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 3715SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 42° from the ssw.
Madison, WI
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
972.6
-0.9 mb in 3h · falling · 28.72 inHg
Now
972.6
mb
3h
-0.9
mb
12h
0.0
mb
24h
-2.9
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 972–976
965970975980-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW975.5972.2972.6
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low still deepening — rough seas, strong wind, persistent rain.
Madison, WI
Air quality
26
AQI
Good
↓-9 in 6h

AQI 26 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI down 9 over the last 6 hours (gradual decline).

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5Good
2.8μg/m³
PM 10Good
3μg/m³
NO₂Good
10μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERGood
37μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

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).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100WEDTHUFRISATSUNMONTUEWED7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Madison, WI
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
34.2mi
UNLIMITED
83 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
08:27 UTC · Madison, WI · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
08:27 UTC · Madison, WI · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Madison, WI
Satellite · infrared · animated
Madison, WI
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Madison, WI
Almanac · Wednesday, June 17
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
Civil dawn
4:43 AM
Sunrise
12:17 AM
Daylight
15h 22m
Sunset
3:39 PM
Civil dusk
9:16 PM
Planting note
Stake and prune tomato suckers. Watch for squash vine borers.
Madison, WI
The moon
Waxing Crescent
7% illuminated
Moonrise
7:47 AM
Moonset
10:47 PM
In sign
♋︎ Cancer
Madison, WI
Microseason
Jun 16–20

Honeysuckle sweetens the night

plant
Jan 146% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Madison at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 17°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: May 4 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jun 16–20
  • Planting window: Stake and prune tomato suckers. Watch for squash vine borers.

15-Day Forecast — Madison

  1. Wed66°54°88%
  2. Thu69°55°19%
  3. Fri67°47°13%
  4. Sat70°53°13%
  5. Sun67°51°56%
  6. Mon70°48°46%
  7. Tue67°54°12%
  8. Wed73°51°20%
  9. Thu77°60°22%
  10. Fri81°64°23%
  11. Sat68°62°23%
  12. Sun70°57°46%
  13. Mon73°57°43%
  14. Tue77°57°45%
  15. Wed81°59°35%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Madison

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of June 17, 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 — Madison

SPC has placed Madison in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYSLGTSlight Risk
  • TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
  • DAY 3NONENo severe risk

Scattered severe storms possible. A few tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts possible.

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.

January 1–5: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · June 16–20

Honeysuckle sweetens the night

Japanese honeysuckle perfumes parks after dark.

Day 168 of 365 · Wedge 34 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
April——
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radisheslettuce, peas, radishes
Junelettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
October—winter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

The year in Madison tops out in July (~75°F) and dips lowest in January (~20°F), with May wettest at 4.2 inches and January driest at 1.5 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January20°1.5″14
February23°1.6″12
March34°2.6″15
April48°3.4″17
May58°4.2″18
June69°4.0″16
July75°3.0″15
August73°3.0″14
September65°3.6″14
October53°2.9″12
November37°2.8″13
December24°1.7″13

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Madison sees 20°F Januarys and 75°F Julys, a 55°F range, plus around 34.3 inches of precipitation across 173 days.

Precipitation in Madison runs summer-dominant: May averages 4.2 inches across 17.6 days of warm-season storms, while January drops to 1.5 inches over 14.0 rainy days of drier cool air. That puts Madison in a summer-convective cohort with places like Maple Bluff, WI, Shorewood Hills, WI and Monona, WI.

The cool-season window in Madison starts at late-May, when nights stop freezing — think kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Hold Madison's tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, basil — until 10-14 days past Madison's last frost. Madison's window closes around early-October as overnight lows return below freezing. Within Madison, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Madison's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Maple Bluff, WI, Shorewood Hills, WI, Monona, WI, Middleton, WI, Fitchburg, WI.

Naturalist notes

American robins return to Madison in late March, their territorial songs marking the transition from winter's quiet.

Wild columbine blooms emerge in May along woodland edges, their distinctive spurred flowers attracting early pollinators.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Madison?
In Madison, expect the last spring frost near mid-May; Madison's first autumn frost comes around mid-October.
What is the rainy season in Madison?
Madison sees its heaviest rain in May (around 4.2 inches), part of roughly 34 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Madison?
Madison peaks in July, when the mean runs near 75°F.
What is the coldest month in Madison?
January is Madison's coldest month, averaging about 20°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Madison?
In Madison, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-May; Madison's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Madison get?
Madison records around 173 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Madison?
Because Madison bottoms near 20°F in January, that winter low sets Madison's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Madison?
Madison's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Madison?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Madison in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Madison?
Current conditions for Madison and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Madison forecast updated?
The Madison forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Madison?
Day length in Madison peaks around the June solstice — earliest sunrise and latest sunset — and is shortest near the December solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Madison?
The next few days in Madison's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

In Madison, Wisconsin, the warm-summer humid continental climate runs from about 20°F in January to 75°F in July, a 55°F seasonal range.

Rain and snow bring Madison roughly 34 inches a year across approximately 173 measurable-precipitation days.

From 43.1°N, Madison sees a 55°F seasonal swing that governs Madison's planting and frost windows.

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ZIP codes in Madison

  • 53706
  • 53704
  • 53705
  • 53703
  • 53726
  • 53792
  • 53719
  • 53718
  • 53715
  • 53714
  • 53717
  • 53716
  • 53711
  • 53713
  • 53701
  • 53702
  • 53707
  • 53708
  • 53725
  • 53774
  • 53777
  • 53782
  • 53783
  • 53784
  • 53785
  • 53786
  • 53788
  • 53790
  • 53793
  • 53794

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.