Wisconsin Climate
Top 5 Cities: Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, and Racine
This month in numbers
April 2026 brought exceptionally wet conditions to Wisconsin, with precipitation ranking 1st of 77 years on record, reaching 165.86 mm, an anomaly of +96.8 mm compared to the 1961–1990 baseline. The three-month period from February to April 2026 also saw record-breaking rainfall, ranking 1st of 77 years with 85.17 mm, an anomaly of +37.5 mm. Temperatures were also notably warm, with April's average temperature of 8°C ranking 14th warmest on record, and the February–April average of 1.74°C ranking as the 7th warmest such period in 77 years. Globally, April 2026 was the 2nd warmest April on record for land temperatures, with the February–April period also ranking as the 2nd warmest.
What changed
Wisconsin's recent warmth and record-setting precipitation stand in contrast to the national picture, where the US experienced its 107th warmest April. The state's 3-month average temperature anomaly of +3.1°C places it 39th warmest globally, within a striking pattern where 9 of the top 10 warmest 3-month anomalies are US states. This period of significant rainfall follows a year (2025) that saw both Arctic winter blasts and unusual fall warmth, along with droughty stretches and heavy rains, indicating a "precipitation ping-pong" effect.
What’s driving change?
The significant precipitation in April, including record-breaking rainfall in Milwaukee and Green Bay, contributed to flash flooding and major river flooding in parts of the state. This comes after Wisconsin experienced its busiest severe weather season on record in April, with nearly 300 severe weather alerts, far exceeding the average of 20 for the month. The state has also seen an unusual concentration of wildfire activity recently, with four wildfire events occurring between May 14 and May 21, representing 100% of the annual total for the past 12 months. This heightened fire risk is exacerbated by dry vegetation, low humidity, warming temperatures, and gusty winds, particularly in spring, which is typically Wisconsin's most critical fire season. The state has also experienced two drought events in the past 12 months, which is an unusual concentration. These rapid shifts between very wet and very dry periods, known as "precipitation ping-pong," have become increasingly common in Wisconsin, with the state's annual Extreme Weather Index increasing by 28% since 1895, the largest increase of any Midwestern state. More information on active extreme weather events can be found at Extreme Weather tracker.
Looking ahead
A slightly drier pattern is hoped for through the end of May and into early June, which could help alleviate current high water levels in rivers and streams.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
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Data Sources
Data Sources for Wisconsin
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) — see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Wisconsin changing?
Wisconsin is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The trend rate is shown as °C per decade in the headline panel; you can also see the warmest and coolest years on file.
Where does the climate data for Wisconsin come from?
Climate data for Wisconsin comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Wisconsin climate data cover?
The Wisconsin climate profile covers Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and surrounding areas. Wisconsin climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Wisconsin climate update refreshed?
The Wisconsin climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.