Winter temperatures · Wisconsin
How cold does Madison get in winter?
Madison right now
37°FClear skies
- Today40°F / 32°FClear skies
- Tomorrow45°F / 28°FClear skies
- Monday48°F / 32°FClear skies
Cold enough to see your breath, for free.
Live from OpenWeatherMap. Alerts from the National Weather Service.
In a typical winter, December to February, Madison averages highs around 30°F and lows around 15°F.
About 59 days a year never get above freezing. About 36 nights a year drop to 10°F or colder, and about 16 go below zero. That makes it the 10th coldest winter of the 129 US cities we track.
Last updated
The coldest low in the forecast for the next 48 hours is about 28°F.
Madison’s winter highs hover around 30°F, so the lakes freeze solid and the city goes out and stands on them.
Live 48-hour forecast from OpenWeatherMap, refreshed about every half hour. Alerts from the National Weather Service.
More about the weather here
Winter at a glance
| Average winter high | 30°F |
|---|---|
| Average winter low | 15°F |
| Days a year that stay below freezing | 59 |
| Nights a year at 32°F or colder | 147 |
| Nights a year at 10°F or colder | 36 |
| Nights a year below zero | 16 |
| Average summer high, for comparison | 80°F |
Winter here is December to February. Counts are averages a year.
Cities with about the same winter
- Sioux City, Iowa: highs around 32°F, lows around 13°F
- Waterloo, Iowa: highs around 32°F, lows around 14°F
- Dubuque, Iowa: highs around 30°F, lows around 14°F
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020, station USW00014837.