Milwaukee weather in December
In December, Milwaukee sees average daytime highs of 34°F and overnight lows near 24°F, with 2.2 in of precipitation across 8.5 wet days and about 8.9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.
Highs ease over the month, from about 38°F in the first days to 31°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 20% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Milwaukee's 11th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Milwaukee's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 34°
- 10th warmest
- Overnight low
- 24°
- 3rd coldest
- Precipitation
- 2.2 in
- 8.5 wet days
- Daylight
- 8 h 48 min
- 7:23 AM – 4:13 PM
- Cloud cover
- 70%
- 11th clearest
- Wind
- 11 mph
- 3rd windiest
- Solar energy
- 1.49 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 0.0
- out of 10
Milwaukee is city in and county seat of Milwaukee County, and largest city in State of Wisconsin, United States.
- Density
- 2,248/km²
- people per km²
- Founded
- 1846
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in December
Highs ease over the month, from about 38°F in the first days to 31°F by the end.
A typical December day in Milwaukee reaches about 34°F in the afternoon and slips back to 24°F overnight — a 10°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 22°F and 45°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 11°F cooler than November and about 5°F warmer than January.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°F) | 38 | 38 | 38 | 37 | 37 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
| Avg low (°F) | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
| Avg high (°F) | Avg low (°F) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38 | 28 |
| 2 | 38 | 28 |
| 3 | 38 | 28 |
| 4 | 37 | 27 |
| 5 | 37 | 27 |
| 6 | 36 | 26 |
| 7 | 36 | 26 |
| 8 | 36 | 26 |
| 9 | 35 | 25 |
| 10 | 35 | 25 |
| 11 | 35 | 25 |
| 12 | 35 | 24 |
| 13 | 34 | 24 |
| 14 | 34 | 24 |
| 15 | 34 | 24 |
| 16 | 34 | 24 |
| 17 | 33 | 24 |
| 18 | 33 | 23 |
| 19 | 33 | 23 |
| 20 | 33 | 23 |
| 21 | 33 | 23 |
| 22 | 33 | 23 |
| 23 | 32 | 22 |
| 24 | 32 | 22 |
| 25 | 32 | 22 |
| 26 | 32 | 22 |
| 27 | 32 | 22 |
| 28 | 31 | 21 |
| 29 | 31 | 21 |
| 30 | 31 | 21 |
| 31 | 31 | 20 |
How December really feels in Milwaukee
Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 31 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.
The story in December is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Milwaukee weather by month
How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29° / 17° | 2.0 | 8.9 | 6.8 | 9.2 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 31° / 19° | 1.9 | 7 | 5.5 | 10.2 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 40° / 28° | 2.4 | 9.5 | 4.1 | 11.6 | 0.2 |
| Apr | 50° / 38° | 4.1 | 11.9 | 1.7 | 13.1 | 2.2 |
| May | 62° / 48° | 3.6 | 11.6 | 0 | 14.4 | 4.9 |
| Jun | 73° / 60° | 3.5 | 10.8 | 0 | 15.1 | 6.6 |
| Jul | 79° / 66° | 3.2 | 10.1 | 0 | 14.8 | 6.7 |
| Aug | 77° / 65° | 3.6 | 10.7 | 0 | 13.8 | 6.8 |
| Sep | 71° / 58° | 3.0 | 9.2 | 0 | 12.3 | 6.7 |
| Oct | 58° / 46° | 3.1 | 9.1 | 0.2 | 10.8 | 4.4 |
| Nov | 45° / 34° | 2.4 | 8.6 | 1.7 | 9.5 | 1.0 |
| Dec | 34° / 24° | 2.2 | 8.5 | 5.4 | 8.9 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in December
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 20% of the time in December.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 69%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 |
| Cloudier (%) | 69 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 68 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 71 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | 69 |
| 2 | 32 | 68 |
| 3 | 32 | 68 |
| 4 | 32 | 68 |
| 5 | 33 | 67 |
| 6 | 33 | 67 |
| 7 | 33 | 67 |
| 8 | 33 | 67 |
| 9 | 33 | 67 |
| 10 | 33 | 67 |
| 11 | 33 | 67 |
| 12 | 31 | 69 |
| 13 | 31 | 69 |
| 14 | 31 | 69 |
| 15 | 31 | 69 |
| 16 | 32 | 68 |
| 17 | 31 | 69 |
| 18 | 31 | 69 |
| 19 | 31 | 69 |
| 20 | 30 | 70 |
| 21 | 30 | 70 |
| 22 | 31 | 69 |
| 23 | 31 | 69 |
| 24 | 31 | 69 |
| 25 | 30 | 70 |
| 26 | 30 | 70 |
| 27 | 30 | 70 |
| 28 | 30 | 70 |
| 29 | 30 | 70 |
| 30 | 30 | 70 |
| 31 | 29 | 71 |
Chance of precipitation in December
Milwaukee gets around 2.2 in of rain and snow over 8.5 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 28% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Snow chance (%) | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Rain chance (%) | Snow chance (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | 14 |
| 2 | 31 | 15 |
| 3 | 31 | 16 |
| 4 | 30 | 16 |
| 5 | 30 | 17 |
| 6 | 30 | 17 |
| 7 | 30 | 17 |
| 8 | 29 | 17 |
| 9 | 29 | 17 |
| 10 | 29 | 17 |
| 11 | 28 | 17 |
| 12 | 28 | 17 |
| 13 | 28 | 16 |
| 14 | 28 | 16 |
| 15 | 27 | 16 |
| 16 | 27 | 16 |
| 17 | 27 | 16 |
| 18 | 27 | 15 |
| 19 | 26 | 15 |
| 20 | 26 | 15 |
| 21 | 26 | 16 |
| 22 | 26 | 16 |
| 23 | 26 | 16 |
| 24 | 26 | 17 |
| 25 | 26 | 17 |
| 26 | 26 | 17 |
| 27 | 26 | 17 |
| 28 | 27 | 18 |
| 29 | 27 | 18 |
| 30 | 27 | 18 |
| 31 | 27 | 18 |
Humidity in December
Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Dry (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100 |
| 2 | 100 |
| 3 | 100 |
| 4 | 100 |
| 5 | 100 |
| 6 | 100 |
| 7 | 100 |
| 8 | 100 |
| 9 | 100 |
| 10 | 100 |
| 11 | 100 |
| 12 | 100 |
| 13 | 100 |
| 14 | 100 |
| 15 | 100 |
| 16 | 100 |
| 17 | 100 |
| 18 | 100 |
| 19 | 100 |
| 20 | 100 |
| 21 | 100 |
| 22 | 100 |
| 23 | 100 |
| 24 | 100 |
| 25 | 100 |
| 26 | 100 |
| 27 | 100 |
| 28 | 100 |
| 29 | 100 |
| 30 | 100 |
| 31 | 100 |
Wind in December
Winds average 11 mph in December.
Across December, daily wind ranges from about 11 mph on the calmest days to 11 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (mph) | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Feels | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze |
| Wind speed (mph) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | light breeze |
| 2 | 11 | light breeze |
| 3 | 11 | light breeze |
| 4 | 11 | light breeze |
| 5 | 11 | light breeze |
| 6 | 11 | light breeze |
| 7 | 11 | light breeze |
| 8 | 11 | light breeze |
| 9 | 11 | light breeze |
| 10 | 11 | light breeze |
| 11 | 11 | light breeze |
| 12 | 11 | light breeze |
| 13 | 11 | light breeze |
| 14 | 11 | light breeze |
| 15 | 11 | light breeze |
| 16 | 11 | light breeze |
| 17 | 11 | light breeze |
| 18 | 11 | light breeze |
| 19 | 11 | light breeze |
| 20 | 11 | light breeze |
| 21 | 11 | light breeze |
| 22 | 11 | light breeze |
| 23 | 11 | light breeze |
| 24 | 11 | light breeze |
| 25 | 11 | light breeze |
| 26 | 11 | light breeze |
| 27 | 11 | light breeze |
| 28 | 11 | light breeze |
| 29 | 11 | light breeze |
| 30 | 11 | light breeze |
| 31 | 11 | light breeze |
Sunrise & sunset in December
Daylight runs from about 9 h 06 min at the start of December to 8 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:10 AM to 7:29 AM, and sunset from 4:13 PM to 4:21 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 8.9 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 7:10 | 7:11 | 7:12 | 7:13 | 7:14 | 7:15 | 7:16 | 7:16 | 7:17 | 7:18 | 7:19 | 7:20 | 7:21 | 7:21 | 7:22 | 7:23 | 7:23 | 7:24 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:26 | 7:26 | 7:27 | 7:27 | 7:27 | 7:28 | 7:28 | 7:28 | 7:29 | 7:29 | 7:29 |
| Sunset (PM) | 4:13 | 4:13 | 4:13 | 4:12 | 4:12 | 4:12 | 4:12 | 4:12 | 4:12 | 4:12 | 4:12 | 4:12 | 4:12 | 4:12 | 4:13 | 4:13 | 4:13 | 4:13 | 4:14 | 4:14 | 4:15 | 4:15 | 4:16 | 4:16 | 4:17 | 4:17 | 4:18 | 4:18 | 4:19 | 4:20 | 4:21 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.1 | 7:10 | 4:13 |
| 2 | 9.0 | 7:11 | 4:13 |
| 3 | 9.0 | 7:12 | 4:13 |
| 4 | 9.0 | 7:13 | 4:12 |
| 5 | 9.0 | 7:14 | 4:12 |
| 6 | 9.0 | 7:15 | 4:12 |
| 7 | 8.9 | 7:16 | 4:12 |
| 8 | 8.9 | 7:16 | 4:12 |
| 9 | 8.9 | 7:17 | 4:12 |
| 10 | 8.9 | 7:18 | 4:12 |
| 11 | 8.9 | 7:19 | 4:12 |
| 12 | 8.9 | 7:20 | 4:12 |
| 13 | 8.9 | 7:21 | 4:12 |
| 14 | 8.9 | 7:21 | 4:12 |
| 15 | 8.8 | 7:22 | 4:13 |
| 16 | 8.8 | 7:23 | 4:13 |
| 17 | 8.8 | 7:23 | 4:13 |
| 18 | 8.8 | 7:24 | 4:13 |
| 19 | 8.8 | 7:25 | 4:14 |
| 20 | 8.8 | 7:25 | 4:14 |
| 21 | 8.8 | 7:26 | 4:15 |
| 22 | 8.8 | 7:26 | 4:15 |
| 23 | 8.8 | 7:27 | 4:16 |
| 24 | 8.8 | 7:27 | 4:16 |
| 25 | 8.8 | 7:27 | 4:17 |
| 26 | 8.8 | 7:28 | 4:17 |
| 27 | 8.8 | 7:28 | 4:18 |
| 28 | 8.8 | 7:28 | 4:18 |
| 29 | 8.8 | 7:29 | 4:19 |
| 30 | 8.9 | 7:29 | 4:20 |
| 31 | 8.9 | 7:29 | 4:21 |
Solar energy in December
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.49 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.49 kWh/m² to a high of 6.43 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.49 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Level | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim | Dim |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.6 | Dim |
| 2 | 1.6 | Dim |
| 3 | 1.6 | Dim |
| 4 | 1.6 | Dim |
| 5 | 1.6 | Dim |
| 6 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 7 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 8 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 9 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 10 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 11 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 12 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 13 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 14 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 15 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 16 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 17 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 18 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 19 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 20 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 21 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 22 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 23 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 24 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 25 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 26 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 27 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 28 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 29 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 30 | 1.5 | Dim |
| 31 | 1.5 | Dim |
Is December a good time to visit Milwaukee?
Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Milwaukee.
What to pack for Milwaukee in December
From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In December, Milwaukee sees daytime highs around 34°F and nights near 24°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Milwaukee in December
The nearest coast averages about 41°F in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 70°F and coldest in March near 36°F.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 29 to Aug 30 — about 1.1 months when the water holds above 68°F.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 38 | 36 | 36 | 38 | 42 | 54 | 67 | 70 | 66 | 56 | 46 | 41 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Refreshing | Cool | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38 | Bracing |
| Feb | 36 | Bracing |
| Mar | 36 | Bracing |
| Apr | 38 | Bracing |
| May | 42 | Bracing |
| Jun | 54 | Bracing |
| Jul | 67 | Cool |
| Aug | 70 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 66 | Cool |
| Oct | 56 | Bracing |
| Nov | 46 | Bracing |
| Dec | 41 | Bracing |
UV index in Milwaukee in December
Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Milwaukee peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 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) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Low | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | Low |
| Feb | 2 | Moderate |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 7 | Very high |
| Sep | 5 | High |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Low |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Air quality in Milwaukee in December
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Milwaukee is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.8× the cleanest month (October, 9 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) | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Good |
| Feb | 13 | Moderate |
| Mar | 15 | Moderate |
| Apr | 15 | Moderate |
| May | 16 | Moderate |
| Jun | 17 | Moderate |
| Jul | 17 | Moderate |
| Aug | 16 | Moderate |
| Sep | 13 | Moderate |
| Oct | 9 | Good |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is Milwaukee?
Milwaukee sits at 43.0°N, 87.9°W, 617 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Wauwatosa, 5.0 mi away.
Topography around Milwaukee
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Milwaukee.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Milwaukee has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 190 ft around an average of 617 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 469 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 846 ft.
The land around Milwaukee is covered by artificial surfaces (59%) and water (28%) within 2 miles, water (40%), artificial surfaces (30%) and trees (21%) within 10 miles, and water (46%) and cropland (21%) 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 Milwaukee (43.0389°, -87.9065°, elevation 617 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. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).