Monthly climate guide
Madison weather in January
January in Madison is typically freezing, with average daytime highs around -3°C (26°F) and night-time lows near -13°C (9°F). The month usually brings about 39 mm of rain (fairly dry) and is often cloudy. Daytime highs are 3°C cooler than December and 2°C cooler than February.
What stands out in January
- Rain is well below Madison's usual level (around 53% less).
- Just 200 km apart, but Madison runs about 3°C cooler than Chicago this month.
- Mornings start cold: the average low is -13°C, and frost is common.
- Expect more cloud than at any other time of year.
January is typically Madison's coolest month.It's usually the driest month of the year.
Avg high
-3°C
26°F
Avg low
-13°C
9°F
Rainfall
39 mm
fairly dry
Humidity
89%
relative
Sky
69%
cloud · often cloudy
Madison weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -3°C / 26°F | -13°C / 9°F | 39 mm | 89% | 69% |
| February | -2°C / 29°F | -12°C / 11°F | 40 mm | 87% | 63% |
| March | 6°C / 43°F | -4°C / 25°F | 56 mm | 81% | 63% |
| April | 13°C / 55°F | 1°C / 34°F | 97 mm | 78% | 65% |
| May | 20°C / 68°F | 8°C / 47°F | 113 mm | 79% | 64% |
| June | 25°C / 77°F | 14°C / 58°F | 139 mm | 78% | 58% |
| July | 28°C / 82°F | 17°C / 63°F | 102 mm | 77% | 48% |
| August | 27°C / 80°F | 16°C / 61°F | 103 mm | 76% | 52% |
| September | 23°C / 73°F | 12°C / 53°F | 105 mm | 77% | 49% |
| October | 15°C / 59°F | 4°C / 40°F | 93 mm | 79% | 62% |
| November | 6°C / 43°F | -3°C / 27°F | 58 mm | 83% | 65% |
| December | 0°C / 32°F | -7°C / 19°F | 50 mm | 88% | 73% |
What to pack for January
- A proper insulated winter coat
- A hat, scarf and gloves
- Thermal base layers and warm, grippy boots for icy mornings
- A small travel umbrella, just in case
Is January a good time to visit Madison?
Compare the months in the chart above to find your ideal window.
Best time to visit Madison →Other United States cities in January
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Madison weather in January. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/madison/january
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/madison/january">Madison weather in January</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/usa/madison" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Madison weather in January"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/madison/january">Madison weather in January</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Madison in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Madison?
January is cool in Madison, with highs around -3°C. Better for museums and city walks than the beach, and usually quieter.
How warm is Madison in January?
Average highs are about -3°C (26°F) and average lows about -13°C (9°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Madison in January?
Madison typically gets around 39 mm of rain in January — fairly dry. It's usually the driest month of the year.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Madison (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.