Watertown in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Watertown sees average daytime highs around 30°F and overnight lows near 16°F, with 5.1 in of precipitation over about 22 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 30°F. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Watertown's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Watertown's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 30°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 16°F
- Precipitation
- 5.1 in
- 22 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 mph
- Travel score
- 0.0
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Watertown in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 30°F.
A typical winter day in Watertown reaches about 30°F and drops to 16°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Watertown
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 90 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Watertown weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) 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 | 27° / 13° | 1.6 | 7.9 | 6.6 | 9.2 | 0.0 |
| Feb | 31° / 16° | 1.6 | 6.9 | 5.5 | 10.2 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 43° / 26° | 2.3 | 8.9 | 3.9 | 11.6 | 0.8 |
| Apr | 56° / 38° | 3.7 | 12.1 | 1.9 | 13.1 | 3.5 |
| May | 67° / 49° | 3.7 | 11.8 | 0 | 14.4 | 5.8 |
| Jun | 77° / 59° | 3.9 | 11.2 | 0 | 15.1 | 6.6 |
| Jul | 81° / 63° | 3.2 | 9.9 | 0 | 14.9 | 6.6 |
| Aug | 79° / 61° | 3.5 | 10.2 | 0 | 13.8 | 6.8 |
| Sep | 72° / 53° | 2.9 | 8.8 | 0 | 12.3 | 6.9 |
| Oct | 58° / 42° | 2.8 | 9 | 0.3 | 10.8 | 4.5 |
| Nov | 44° / 30° | 2.1 | 7.9 | 2 | 9.5 | 0.9 |
| Dec | 32° / 20° | 1.9 | 7.6 | 5.4 | 8.9 | 0.0 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Watertown gets around 5.1 in of rain and snow over 22 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 9 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 9 hours in early December to 10 h 48 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 2.1 kWh/m².
Is winter a good time to visit Watertown?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Watertown.
What to pack for Watertown in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Watertown sees daytime highs around 30°F and nights near 16°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 22 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Watertown in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 38°F across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 44 mi away) 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 Watertown in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Watertown peaks around June 19 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. 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 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 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 | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 3 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Moderate |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Air quality in Watertown in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Watertown is worst in July — around 15 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (November, 8 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) | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Good |
| Feb | 12 | Moderate |
| Mar | 13 | Moderate |
| Apr | 12 | Good |
| May | 13 | Moderate |
| Jun | 14 | Moderate |
| Jul | 15 | Moderate |
| Aug | 14 | Moderate |
| Sep | 11 | Good |
| Oct | 8 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 9 | Good |
Where is Watertown?
Watertown sits at 43.2°N, 88.7°W, 853 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Oconomowoc, 13 mi away.
Topography around Watertown
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Watertown.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Watertown has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 180 ft around an average of 843 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 325 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,129 ft.
The land around Watertown is covered by grassland (28%), artificial surfaces (27%) and trees (26%) within 2 miles, cropland (57%) and trees (21%) within 10 miles, and cropland (47%) and trees (26%) 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 Watertown (43.1947°, -88.729°, elevation 853 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.