Madison Weather History
Wisconsin · US States · Weather data 1976–today
Madison sits 4795km from the equator, 262m above sea level. That combination gives it a climate with hot summers and cold, snowy winters (Hot-summer humid continental climate). Its record high is 38.2°C, set 1995-07-13, its record low -37.1°C, set 1996-02-03.
Data through August 4, 2026.
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Madison
What is the hottest temperature ever recorded in Madison?
The highest temperature in this record for Madison is 38.2°C, measured on 1995-07-13. That is a recorded daily value from Madison's own series covering 1976 to 2025, not an estimate or a regional average.
What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Madison?
The lowest temperature in this record for Madison is -37.1°C, measured on 1996-02-03. Together with the heat record above, that spans the full range this city has actually experienced across 1976 to 2025.
How much rain does Madison get a year?
Madison averages 881mm of precipitation a year, spread across roughly 114 days with at least 1mm. That average is taken over 50 complete calendar years, so one exceptionally wet or dry year does not set the figure.
What was the wettest day on record in Madison?
On 2026-08-01, 114.2mm fell on Madison, the highest single-day total in this series. For scale, that is roughly 13% of what the city receives in an average full year, in one day.
How many hours of sunshine does Madison get a year?
Madison averages 3135 sunshine hours a year, which works out to about 8.6 hours a day across the whole year. Sunshine hours measure the time direct sunlight actually reaches the ground, not simply how long it is light.
How warm are summers and how cold are winters in Madison?
Across the summer months Madison averages a daytime high near 26.2°C, while winter nights average -9.8°C. The seasons here are set from Madison's position relative to the equator rather than a fixed northern-hemisphere calendar.
What is the strongest wind recorded in Madison?
The strongest wind speed recorded in Madison is 51 km/h, on 1984-04-30. That is the daily maximum sustained wind rather than the peak gust, which typically runs higher still.
