Madison in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Madison sees average daytime highs around 82°F and overnight lows near 65°F, with 12.6 in of rain over about 34 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 76°F in early June to 81°F by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels humid.
Summer is Madison's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Madison's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 82°F
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 65°F
- Rainfall
- 12.6 in
- 34 wet days
- Avg wind
- 6 mph
- Travel score
- 5.8
- best season of the year
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Madison in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 76°F in early June to 81°F by late August.
A typical summer day in Madison reaches about 82°F and drops to 65°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is July, the coolest June.
How summer really feels in Madison
Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F.
summer sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.
Madison weather by month
How the three summer months (June, July and August) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38° / 24° | 3.5 | 9.2 | 4.8 | 9.4 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 40° / 25° | 3.1 | 8.6 | 4 | 10.4 | 0.1 |
| Mar | 49° / 33° | 4.3 | 10.5 | 3.7 | 11.7 | 1.9 |
| Apr | 60° / 43° | 3.8 | 11.1 | 0.6 | 13.1 | 4.7 |
| May | 70° / 52° | 3.8 | 11.7 | 0 | 14.2 | 6.2 |
| Jun | 79° / 62° | 4.3 | 11.7 | 0 | 14.9 | 6.2 |
| Jul | 84° / 67° | 4.3 | 11 | 0 | 14.6 | 5.3 |
| Aug | 82° / 66° | 4.0 | 10.8 | 0 | 13.6 | 6.0 |
| Sep | 75° / 58° | 4.3 | 9.4 | 0 | 12.3 | 6.9 |
| Oct | 64° / 47° | 4.0 | 9.1 | 0.2 | 10.9 | 5.7 |
| Nov | 52° / 37° | 3.2 | 8 | 0.6 | 9.7 | 2.9 |
| Dec | 42° / 29° | 4.1 | 9.7 | 3.1 | 9.1 | 0.4 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Madison gets around 12.6 in of rain over 34 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 6 mph across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 h 42 min in early June to 13 hours by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 5.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Madison
In summer, Madison overlaps its atlantic hurricane season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Madison sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Is summer a good time to visit Madison?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Madison for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Madison in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Madison sees daytime highs around 82°F and nights near 65°F. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 34 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Madison in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 70°F across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 30 mi away) is warmest in August at about 74°F and coldest in February near 40°F.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 30 to Sep 26 — about 2.9 months when the water holds above 68°F.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 43 | 40 | 41 | 46 | 55 | 65 | 72 | 74 | 71 | 63 | 55 | 48 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43 | Bracing |
| Feb | 40 | Bracing |
| Mar | 41 | Bracing |
| Apr | 46 | Bracing |
| May | 55 | Bracing |
| Jun | 65 | Cool |
| Jul | 72 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 74 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 71 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 63 | Cool |
| Nov | 55 | Bracing |
| Dec | 48 | Bracing |
UV index in Madison in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 7 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Madison peaks around July 11 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 1 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 7 | Very high |
| Jun | 8 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 6 | High |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Moderate |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Air quality in Madison in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Madison is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.8× the cleanest month (November, 10 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 12 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 12 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12 | Moderate |
| Feb | 15 | Moderate |
| Mar | 16 | Moderate |
| Apr | 16 | Moderate |
| May | 17 | Moderate |
| Jun | 17 | Moderate |
| Jul | 18 | Moderate |
| Aug | 16 | Moderate |
| Sep | 14 | Moderate |
| Oct | 11 | Good |
| Nov | 10 | Good |
| Dec | 12 | Good |
Where is Madison?
Madison sits at 40.8°N, 74.4°W, 259 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Summit, 4.3 mi away.
Topography around Madison
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Madison.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Madison has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 302 ft around an average of 289 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,070 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,008 ft.
The land around Madison is covered by trees (75%) within 2 miles, trees (78%) within 10 miles, and trees (63%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Madison (40.7598°, -74.4171°, elevation 259 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.