Appleton, Wisconsin Weather
Fireflies rise from the lawn. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Appleton weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Overcast13%—85°57°—
- FridayJun 5Drizzle59%0.07″78°66°-7°
- SaturdayJun 6Drizzle59%0.02″78°60°0°
- SundayJun 7Overcast——72°55°-6°
- MondayJun 8Overcast26%—71°57°-1°
- TuesdayJun 9Light Drizzle26%—75°61°+4°
- WednesdayJun 10Light Drizzle30%—74°62°-1°
PM2.5 at 9.3 µg/m³ (AQI 51) with a 0.92 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI down 34 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 32. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~65%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.
- Present
- AQI 32
- UV peak
- 3.3 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- overcast
- Projected peak
- AQI 7
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 9.3 µg/m³ (AQI 51) with a 0.92 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.92
- Wind
- light
- 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
- 4:38 AM
- Moonset
- 1:40 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies rise from the lawn
Appleton at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 12°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: May 12 (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 — Appleton
SPC has placed Appleton in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.
- TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
- TOMORROWMRGLMarginal Risk
- DAY 3NONENo severe 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 brings Appleton's highest temperatures, averaging around 71°F, while January delivers the coldest conditions at approximately 18°F. Precipitation follows its own calendar, with June bringing the heaviest rainfall at 4.7 inches and February staying driest with just 1.1 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18° | 1.4″ | 4 |
| February | 20° | 1.1″ | 4 |
| March | 31° | 1.9″ | 5 |
| April | 44° | 3.2″ | 7 |
| May | 57° | 3.6″ | 8 |
| June | 67° | 4.7″ | 8 |
| July | 71° | 3.8″ | 7 |
| August | 70° | 3.6″ | 7 |
| September | 61° | 3.2″ | 6 |
| October | 49° | 2.8″ | 6 |
| November | 36° | 2.1″ | 5 |
| December | 24° | 1.8″ | 5 |
Regional context
Appleton belongs to the warm-summer humid continental climate region, sharing temperature ranges, seasonal rhythms, and growing conditions with other cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: Milwaukee, WI, Madison, WI, Green Bay, WI, Racine, WI, Kenosha, WI.
Naturalist notes
American robins typically return to Appleton in late March, their territorial songs marking the transition from winter's grip to spring's promise.
Wild columbine begins flowering in May woodlands, its distinctive spurred blossoms appearing as the last frost danger passes.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Appleton?
- Spring's final frost usually occurs around mid-May in Appleton, while the season's first frost typically arrives around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Appleton?
- June stands as the wettest month, delivering approximately 4.7 inches of rainfall, while the city's annual total reaches roughly 33 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Appleton?
- July typically records the year's highest temperatures, with averages around 71°F.
- What is the coldest month in Appleton?
- January brings the coldest temperatures, averaging approximately 18°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Appleton?
- Cool-season vegetables like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-May, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after that date.
- How many rainy days does Appleton get?
- Appleton experiences about 70 rainy days annually on average.
- What hardiness zone is Appleton?
- Appleton's USDA hardiness zone reflects its lowest average winter temperatures; consult the USDA's online zone lookup tool using the city's ZIP code for current zone information.
Climate
Appleton, Wisconsin experiences a warm-summer humid continental climate. Winter temperatures in January typically hover near 18°F, while July averages reach 71°F, creating a 54°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 33 inches, distributed across roughly 70 rainy days throughout the year.
Location at 44.3°N latitude, proximity to large water bodies, and local elevation combine to influence growing seasons, frost timing, and daily weather patterns.