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

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Weather

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

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

Milwaukee, WI
Saturday, July 4 at 5:37 AM
70
°
Clear
Feels like
75°
Humidity
90%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
12:18 AM
Sunset
3:34 PM
Milwaukee, WI
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastMilwaukee, WI: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 63 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit with a 21% chance of precipitation at 6 PM.
L 63°H 76°
Milwaukee, WI
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Drizzle
    37%
    0.04″
    76°66°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    18%
    —
    77°62°+1°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    —
    —
    79°62°+2°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    84°60°+5°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Drizzle
    28%
    —
    85°68°+1°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    31%
    —
    78°61°-7°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    22%
    —
    77°62°-1°
Milwaukee, WI
Next 24 hours · Mild now
60°70°80°12a6a12p6pnow 71°high 76°low 63°PRECIP %
Milwaukee, WI
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSW
213° · backing 23°
Direction
SSW
213°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
11
mph
Peak 24h
15
avg 6
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 6 · pk 15 @ 5:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 186SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 23° from the ssw.
Milwaukee, WI
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
989.6
+1.4 mb in 3h · rising · 29.22 inHg
Now
989.6
mb
3h
+1.4
mb
12h
+0.1
mb
24h
0.0
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 988–992
9809859909951000STORM|RAIN-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW991.6987.8989.6
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
The low is filling — pressure climbing out of storm territory.
Milwaukee, WI
Air quality
39
AQI
Good
→-2 in 6h

AQI 39 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points).

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

PM 2.5Good
4.4μg/m³
PM 10Good
5μg/m³
NO₂Good
7μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERGood
56μg/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 TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³350
Milwaukee, WI
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
13%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
26.7mi
UNLIMITED
73 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
10:37 UTC · Milwaukee, 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
10:37 UTC · Milwaukee, WI · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Milwaukee, WI
Satellite · infrared · animated
Milwaukee, WI
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Milwaukee, WI
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
4:44 AM
Sunrise
12:18 AM
Daylight
15h 16m
Sunset
3:34 PM
Civil dusk
9:10 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Milwaukee, WI
The moon
Waning Gibbous
82% illuminated
Moonrise
10:51 PM
Moonset
9:54 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Milwaukee, WI
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Milwaukee at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 70°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: May 4 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 53202, 53203, 53204, 53205, 53206, 53207, 53208, 53209 +21 more

15-Day Forecast — Milwaukee

  1. Sat76°66°37%
  2. Sun77°62°18%
  3. Mon79°62°3%
  4. Tue84°60°1%
  5. Wed85°68°28%
  6. Thu78°61°31%
  7. Fri77°62°22%
  8. Sat80°63°11%
  9. Sun79°63°10%
  10. Mon88°66°8%
  11. Tue74°64°13%
  12. Wed83°61°17%
  13. Thu81°64°33%
  14. Fri81°67°30%
  15. Sat75°61°32%

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

Live wind & temperature near Milwaukee

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 — Milwaukee

SPC includes Milwaukee in the general thunderstorm area today — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3NONENo severe risk

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

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 · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

Annual cicada buzz begins, peaking in the heat of the day.

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——
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

In Milwaukee, August runs warmest near 73°F and January coldest around 23°F, while May is the wettest month (3.7 inches) and January the driest (1.8 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January23°1.8″18
February24°1.8″14
March32°2.6″16
April43°3.2″17
May52°3.7″18
June64°3.5″17
July73°2.6″15
August73°2.7″14
September67°3.1″14
October55°2.9″15
November40°3.1″15
December28°2.2″16

Regional context

Per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Milwaukee runs from a 23°F January mean to 73°F in July, a 50°F seasonal spread, with near 33.1 inches of precipitation across about 189 wet days.

No season owns Milwaukee's rain: May reaches 3.7 inches across 18.0 days and January keeps 1.8 inches on 17.8, an even spread through Milwaukee's year. That lines Milwaukee up with places like Wauwatosa, WI, West Milwaukee, WI and Shorewood, WI, fed by overlapping storm tracks.

Milwaukee reaches its last hard frost near late-May; that is the cue for kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Tomatoes and peppers do best set out two weeks later in Milwaukee, once nights clear the mid-40s°F. By early-October, frost is back in Milwaukee — protect or harvest anything tender. A creek-bottom lot in Milwaukee can lag Milwaukee's last frost 7-10 days behind a south slope.

Similar climates: Wauwatosa, WI, West Milwaukee, WI, Shorewood, WI, Whitefish Bay, WI, Glendale, 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?
Frost typically leaves Milwaukee by mid-May and returns to Milwaukee near mid-October.
What is the rainy season in Milwaukee?
May is the wettest month in Milwaukee, about 3.7 inches on average; the year totals roughly 33 inches.
What is the warmest month in Milwaukee?
August is Milwaukee's warmest month, averaging about 73°F.
What is the coldest month in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee bottoms out in January, with a mean near 23°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee's last frost (mid-May) cues hardy greens; in Milwaukee, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Milwaukee get?
Milwaukee records around 189 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Milwaukee?
Milwaukee sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 23°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Milwaukee?
Milwaukee'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 Milwaukee?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Milwaukee in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Milwaukee?
Current conditions for Milwaukee and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Milwaukee forecast updated?
The Milwaukee forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Milwaukee?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee?
The next few days in Milwaukee's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Milwaukee, Wisconsin occupies a warm-summer humid continental zone, with January means near 23°F and July around 73°F — a 50°F swing.

Rain and snow bring Milwaukee roughly 33 inches a year across approximately 189 measurable-precipitation days.

The 50°F gap between Milwaukee's summer and winter, at 43.1°N, shapes Milwaukee's frost calendar.

All cities in Wisconsin →

Chicago, IL weather →

ZIP codes in Milwaukee

  • 53203
  • 53202
  • 53207
  • 53206
  • 53205
  • 53204
  • 53209
  • 53208
  • 53233
  • 53218
  • 53219
  • 53214
  • 53215
  • 53216
  • 53210
  • 53211
  • 53212
  • 53213
  • 53295
  • 53225
  • 53224
  • 53221
  • 53220
  • 53223
  • 53222
  • 53228
  • 53201
  • 53237
  • 53259
  • 53263
  • 53274
  • 53278
  • 53288
  • 53290
  • 53293

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.