Waterloo in Spring
In spring (March, April and May), Waterloo sees average daytime highs around 58°F and overnight lows near 39°F, with 11.8 in of precipitation over about 33 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 37°F in early March to 74°F by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time across spring, and the air most often feels dry.
Spring is Waterloo's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Waterloo's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 58°F
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 39°F
- Precipitation
- 11.8 in
- 33 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 mph
- Travel score
- 3.8
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Waterloo in Spring
Over the season highs climb from about 37°F in early March to 74°F by late May.
A typical spring day in Waterloo reaches about 58°F and drops to 39°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is May, the coolest March.
How spring really feels in Waterloo
Once humidity and wind are folded in, spring brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 46 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in spring is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Waterloo weather by month
How the three spring months (March, April and May) 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 | 26° / 11° | 1.4 | 6.8 | 5.6 | 9.2 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 31° / 15° | 1.4 | 6.5 | 4.8 | 10.3 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 45° / 27° | 2.5 | 9 | 3.4 | 11.6 | 1.1 |
| Apr | 59° / 39° | 4.3 | 11.2 | 1.1 | 13.1 | 4.3 |
| May | 70° / 51° | 5.0 | 13 | 0.1 | 14.4 | 6.0 |
| Jun | 79° / 61° | 5.1 | 12.4 | 0 | 15.1 | 6.3 |
| Jul | 82° / 64° | 4.2 | 10.3 | 0 | 14.8 | 6.5 |
| Aug | 80° / 61° | 3.9 | 9.5 | 0 | 13.7 | 6.8 |
| Sep | 73° / 53° | 3.7 | 8.6 | 0 | 12.3 | 7.1 |
| Oct | 60° / 41° | 2.8 | 8.3 | 0.4 | 10.8 | 5.2 |
| Nov | 45° / 29° | 2.1 | 7.2 | 2.1 | 9.6 | 1.2 |
| Dec | 32° / 18° | 1.7 | 6.9 | 5.1 | 8.9 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in Spring
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 26% of the time across spring.
Chance of precipitation in Spring
Waterloo gets around 11.8 in of rain and snow over 33 wet days across spring. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Spring
Most of spring feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Spring
Winds average 10 mph across spring.
Sunrise & sunset in Spring
Daylight runs from about 10 h 54 min in early March to 14 h 54 min by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Spring
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across spring, about 4.9 kWh/m².
Is spring a good time to visit Waterloo?
Our two travel scores rate spring for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
spring is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Waterloo.
What to pack for Waterloo in Spring
From spring's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In spring, Waterloo sees daytime highs around 58°F and nights near 39°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 33 days see rain.
UV index in Waterloo in Spring
Clear-sky midday UV across spring averages around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Waterloo peaks around June 18 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near January 1 at about 2 (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 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 7 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 7 | Very high |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Low |
Air quality in Waterloo in Spring
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where spring falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Waterloo is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.2× the cleanest month (October, 7 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 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12 | Moderate |
| Feb | 15 | Moderate |
| Mar | 14 | Moderate |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 12 | Good |
| Jun | 13 | Moderate |
| Jul | 16 | Moderate |
| Aug | 15 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Good |
| Oct | 7 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is Waterloo?
Waterloo sits at 42.5°N, 92.3°W, 856 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Cedar Falls, 5.6 mi away.
Topography around Waterloo
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Waterloo.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Waterloo has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 151 ft around an average of 873 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 243 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 620 ft.
The land around Waterloo is covered by trees (39%) and artificial surfaces (39%) within 2 miles, cropland (64%) within 10 miles, and cropland (81%) 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 Waterloo (42.4928°, -92.343°, elevation 856 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.