Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Madison, Illinois Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

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

Madison, IL
Saturday, July 4 at 10:51 AM
89
°
Clear
Feels like
97°
Humidity
56%
Wind
8 mph
Sunrise
12:41 AM
Sunset
3:28 PM
Madison, IL
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastMadison, IL: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 73 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 73°H 96°
Madison, IL
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    17%
    96°77°
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Heavy Rain
    26%
    0.59″
    84°71°-12°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    26%
    88°70°+4°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    86°69°-2°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    10%
    94°69°+8°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Light Drizzle
    31%
    97°76°+3°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Thunderstorm
    45%
    0.02″
    91°74°-6°
Madison, IL
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WSW
238° · veering 16°
Direction
WSW
238°
Sustained
8
mph
Gust
12
mph
Peak 24h
24
avg 6
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE 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 6 · pk 24 @ 9:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 265SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 16° from the wsw.
Madison, IL
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1001.0
+1.2 mb in 3h · rising · 29.56 inHg
Now
1001.0
mb
3h
+1.2
mb
12h
+1.0
mb
24h
-2.3
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 10001004
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1003.7999.61001.4
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Pressure climbing out of the rain band — clearing edging in.
Madison, IL
Air quality
41
AQI
Good
0 in 6hPeak ~57 @ 10 PM

AQI 41 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI projected to climb to 57 over the next 6 hours. PM2.5 at 9.1 µg/m³, PM10 at 9.8 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 10 PM.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
9.1μg/m³
PM 10Good
10μg/m³
NO₂Good
5μg/m³
OzoneModerate
91μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
3.3

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 43 now. With UV 4.7 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 19 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 43
UV peak
4.7 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
partly cloudy
Projected peak
AQI 19

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 9.1 µg/m³, PM10 at 9.8 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.93
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background
Madison, IL
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
8%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow

Visibility
62.6mi
UNLIMITED
79 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
15:51 UTC · Madison, IL · 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
15:51 UTC · Madison, IL · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Madison, IL
Satellite · infrared · animated
Madison, IL
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Madison, IL
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:10 AM
Sunrise
12:41 AM
Daylight
14h 47m
Sunset
3:28 PM
Civil dusk
9:01 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Madison, IL
The moon
Waning Gibbous
80% illuminated
Moonrise
10:53 PM
Moonset
10:08 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Madison, IL
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Madison at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 16°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 8 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 62060

16-Day Forecast — Madison

  1. Sat96°77°17%
  2. Sun84°71°26%
  3. Mon88°70°26%
  4. Tue86°69°7%
  5. Wed94°69°10%
  6. Thu97°76°31%
  7. Fri91°74°45%
  8. Sat91°75°24%
  9. Sun80°65°6%
  10. Mon79°61°6%
  11. Tue80°63°11%
  12. Wed84°67°12%
  13. Thu84°68°14%
  14. Fri82°69°10%
  15. Sat87°71°13%
  16. Sun93°75°16%

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

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 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 — Madison

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

  • TODAYSLGTSlight Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

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: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its 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 coastMay 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 · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 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
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November
December

A year in weather

July is Madison's warmest stretch (~81°F) and January its coldest (~31°F); precipitation crests in May at 4.4 inches and ebbs in January to 2.1 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January31°2.113
February35°2.312
March45°4.016
April57°4.315
May66°4.417
June75°4.215
July81°2.713
August80°2.913
September72°2.611
October60°2.811
November45°3.613
December34°3.012

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Madison sees 31°F Januarys and 81°F Julys, a 50°F range, plus around 39.1 inches of precipitation across 161 days.

Rainfall in Madison stays even across the calendar: May tops out at 4.4 inches over 17.2 rainy days, and January still logs 2.1 inches across 12.7 — a narrow range for Madison. That lines Madison up with places like Granite City, IL, Venice, IL and Brooklyn, IL, fed by overlapping storm tracks.

The cool-season window in Madison starts at mid-April, when nights stop freezing — think peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Hold Madison's tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, basil — until 10-14 days past Madison's last frost. Madison's window closes around mid-November 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: Granite City, IL, Venice, IL, Brooklyn, IL, Fairmont City, IL, Pontoon Beach, IL.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Madison?
Madison's last spring frost lands near mid-April, and in Madison the first fall frost follows around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Madison?
Rainfall in Madison peaks in May near 4.4 inches, out of about 39 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Madison?
The warmest stretch in Madison comes in July, around 81°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Madison?
On average January is the chilliest month in Madison, about 31°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Madison?
Madison's last frost (mid-April) cues hardy greens; in Madison, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Madison get?
Expect roughly 161 wet days a year in Madison.
What hardiness zone is Madison?
Madison sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 31°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
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?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Madison are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter 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

Madison, Illinois has a humid subtropical climate: January averages roughly 31°F, July about 81°F, 50°F between them.

In a typical year Madison records about 39 inches of precipitation on around 161 days.

At 38.7°N, Madison's 50°F summer-to-winter swing sets when Madison's gardens wake and when frost returns.

ZIP codes in Madison

  • 62048
  • 62040
  • 62060

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.