Milwaukee, on the western shore of Lake Michigan, has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid, winters are cold and snowy, and spring and autumn bring rapid weather changes. The city experiences moderate precipitation year-round, frequent lake breezes, and a wide range of temperatures, making it a dynamic destination for all seasons.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Milwaukee’s climate is shaped by its Great Lakes location, resulting in significant seasonal contrasts and rapid weather changes. Summers (June–August) are warm and humid, with average highs of 25–28°C and frequent thunderstorms. July is the hottest month, with daytime highs often reaching 27–28°C, but lake breezes can cool the shoreline, especially in the afternoons. Rainfall is highest in summer, with 90–110 mm per month, and the city enjoys long daylight hours and up to 10 hours of sunshine daily. Lake Michigan also moderates summer heat, keeping lakeshore areas cooler than inland neighbourhoods.
Winters (December–February) are cold and snowy, with average highs of -1 to 2°C and lows of -8 to -4°C. January is the coldest month, and the city receives about 120 cm of snow annually, often enhanced by lake-effect snow. Winter days are short, with only 1–2 hours of sunshine and about 8 hours of daylight. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with rapidly changing temperatures, frequent rain, and occasional late snow or early frost. Spring highs rise from 4°C in March to 19°C in May, while autumn cools from 23°C in September to 8°C in November. Annual precipitation is about 880 mm, and humidity remains moderate throughout the year. Winds are generally light to moderate, but can be brisk along the lake, especially in spring and autumn.
| Average climate data for Milwaukee, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | -3 | -2 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 25 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -9 | -8 | -2 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 1 | -4 | -9 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 8 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 8 | 7 | 148 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 76 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 28 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 6 | 87 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 7 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 28 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 86 | 85 | 77 | 75 | 78 | 80 | 78 | 77 | 77 | 75 | 77 | 82 | 79 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 10 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 63 | 61 | 52 | 51 | 44 | 35 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 46 | 46 | 59 | 45 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
The best time to visit Milwaukee is from June to September, when temperatures are warm (21–28°C), days are long and sunny, and the city is vibrant with festivals and outdoor events. Early autumn (September) is especially pleasant for sightseeing and enjoying the lakeshore, with comfortable weather and colourful foliage.
The least favourable time is from December to February, when days are short, temperatures are cold (-1 to 2°C), and snow, wind, and ice are frequent. While the city is festive during the holidays, outdoor activities are limited and lake-effect snow can disrupt travel.
Milwaukee’s annual average temperature is about 9–10°C. January is the coldest month (highs -1°C, lows -8°C), while July is the warmest (highs 27–28°C, lows 18°C).
Milwaukee receives about 880 mm of precipitation and 120 cm of snow annually. Rain falls year-round, with summer being wettest. Snow is common in winter, often enhanced by lake-effect conditions.
Milwaukee enjoys about 2,480 hours of sunshine per year. The sunniest months are June to August (up to 10 hours/day), while December and January are the least sunny (1–2 hours/day).
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) are best for outdoor activities, with mild to warm temperatures, long days, and more sunshine. Summer is ideal for festivals, lakefront events, and cycling.
Milwaukee itself is not a winter sports destination, but nearby areas offer cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating from December to March, when snow cover is reliable.
Swimming outdoors is most comfortable in July and August, when air temperatures reach 25–28°C and Lake Michigan warms to 19–22°C. Even then, the water can feel cool, so beach activities are limited.
Pack layers for spring and autumn, light clothing and sun protection for summer, and insulated, waterproof clothing for winter. An umbrella and windproof jacket are useful year-round, especially near the lake.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (25.5 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (-3.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 11.7 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (17.9 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-9 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 5.2 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (22.1 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (2.3 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 9.6 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (19.1 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (6.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 147.6 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is June (10 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is January (1.7 days). Over the whole year there are 75.8 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (27.6 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 87 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (6.6 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are June, July and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 27.5 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (85.9 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is April (75.2 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 78.8 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (18.1 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (11.4 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 15.3 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (62.9 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is July (27 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 45.1 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 2.9 h). Over the whole year there are 6.3 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 6). The months with the lowest average UV index are January and December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.2.
