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Portage, Wisconsin Weather

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

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

Portage, WI
Saturday, July 4 at 10:22 AM
75
°
Overcast
Feels like
81°
Humidity
84%
Wind
4 mph
Sunrise
12:22 AM
Sunset
3:42 PM
Portage, WI
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastPortage, WI: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 65 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 65°H 81°
Portage, WI
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    16%
    —
    81°65°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    14%
    —
    80°65°-1°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Mostly Clear
    —
    —
    79°59°-1°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    81°59°+2°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    T-storm w/ Hail
    46%
    1.8″
    81°64°0°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Showers
    52%
    0.08″
    73°63°-8°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    14%
    —
    79°58°+6°
Portage, WI
Next 24 hours · Mild now
60°72°84°6a12p6p12anow 74°high 81°low 65°PRECIP %
Portage, WI
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
NNE
016° · veering 153°
Direction
NNE
016°
Sustained
4
mph
Gust
8
mph
Peak 24h
17
avg 3
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 3 · pk 17 @ 8:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 157SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 153° from the nne.
Portage, WI
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
986.0
+0.1 mb in 3h · steady · 29.12 inHg
Now
986.0
mb
3h
+0.1
mb
12h
+0.3
mb
24h
-2.0
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 985–988
9809859909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW987.9984.9985.9
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Portage, WI
Air quality
28
AQI
Good
→+4 in 6h▲Peak ~36 @ 9 PM

AQI 28 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±4 points). PM2.5 at 8.6 µg/m³ (AQI 48) with a 0.81 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 9 PM.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
8.6μg/m³
PM 10Good
11μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneModerate
74μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
3.1

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 35. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~88%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 35
UV peak
4.4 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 10

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 8.6 µg/m³ (AQI 48) with a 0.81 fine-to-coarse ratio and 4 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.81
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).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³350
Portage, WI
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
95%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
35.1mi
UNLIMITED
48 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
15:22 UTC · Portage, 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
15:22 UTC · Portage, WI · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Portage, WI
Satellite · infrared · animated
Portage, WI
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Portage, WI
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
4:47 AM
Sunrise
12:22 AM
Daylight
15h 20m
Sunset
3:42 PM
Civil dusk
9:18 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Portage, WI
The moon
Waning Gibbous
81% illuminated
Moonrise
10:57 PM
Moonset
10:00 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Portage, WI
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Portage at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 7°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: May 7 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 53901

16-Day Forecast — Portage

  1. Sat81°65°16%
  2. Sun80°65°14%
  3. Mon79°59°1%
  4. Tue81°59°2%
  5. Wed81°64°46%
  6. Thu73°63°52%
  7. Fri79°58°14%
  8. Sat82°63°9%
  9. Sun68°57°12%
  10. Mon76°53°9%
  11. Tue77°59°7%
  12. Wed79°60°19%
  13. Thu80°66°7%
  14. Fri84°67°16%
  15. Sat83°69°26%
  16. Sun84°70°32%

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 — Portage

SPC includes Portage 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

July is Portage's warmest stretch (~72°F) and January its coldest (~18°F); precipitation crests in June at 5.6 inches and ebbs in February to 1.4 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January18°1.4″5
February22°1.4″4
March33°2.2″5
April46°4.2″7
May58°4.6″9
June68°5.6″8
July72°4.5″7
August70°4.1″7
September62°3.6″7
October49°2.9″6
November36°2.2″5
December24°1.7″5

Regional context

Portage swings from 18°F in January to 72°F in July (54°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Portage runs about 38.3 inches on roughly 73 measurable days.

Portage's rain peaks in summer: June brings 5.6 inches over 8.2 thunderstorm-fed days, while February sees just 1.4 inches across 3.9 days under cooler, drier air. It is a warm-season-wet pattern Portage shares with places like Dekorra, WI, Pardeeville, WI and Wyocena, WI.

Once Portage passes late-May, overnight freezes fade and kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips can be sown. Tomatoes and peppers do best set out two weeks later in Portage, once nights clear the mid-40s°F. By early-October, frost is back in Portage — protect or harvest anything tender. Portage's low ground holds frost later into spring than Portage's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Dekorra, WI, Pardeeville, WI, Wyocena, WI, Briggsville, WI, Poynette, WI.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Portage?
In Portage, expect the last spring frost near mid-May; Portage's first autumn frost comes around mid-October.
What is the rainy season in Portage?
June is the wettest month in Portage, about 5.6 inches on average; the year totals roughly 38 inches.
What is the warmest month in Portage?
The warmest stretch in Portage comes in July, around 72°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Portage?
On average January is the chilliest month in Portage, about 18°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Portage?
Frost-hardy sowings begin at mid-May in Portage; warm-season starts follow two weeks on.
How many rainy days does Portage get?
Portage averages about 73 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Portage?
Portage's USDA zone comes from its January mean (18°F); enter the ZIP on the USDA lookup for the number.
What is the 10-day forecast for Portage?
Portage'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 Portage?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Portage in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Portage?
Current conditions for Portage and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Portage forecast updated?
The Portage forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Portage?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Portage 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 Portage?
The next few days in Portage's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Portage, Wisconsin has a warm-summer humid continental climate: January averages roughly 18°F, July about 72°F, 54°F between them.

Portage sees close to 38 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 73 wet days.

At 43.5°N, Portage's 54°F summer-to-winter swing sets when Portage's gardens wake and when frost returns.

All cities in Wisconsin →

Madison, WI weather →

ZIP codes in Portage

  • 53901

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.