Wisconsin Climate Summaries

Wisconsin experienced one of its most climatically eventful Februaries, with record-setting warmth and the first recorded February tornadoes in state history.

January ended as Wisconsin’s 10th warmest January on record, but not before a mid-month visit from Old Man Winter, coupled with frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall in much of the state.

In 2023 Wisconsin experienced record drought along with unusually warm temperatures, as well as precipitation extremes.

December was a record warm month in Wisconsin that generally felt like a continuation of November. The exceptional temperatures greatly delayed ice formation on inland lakes and the Great Lakes, and they also suppressed snowfall and snow cover.

November was a very dry month in Wisconsin, yet the state’s drought status remained nearly unchanged, with more than one-third of Wisconsin remaining in at least moderate drought and one-sixth of the state continuing in severe or extreme drought.

October featured a little bit of everything across Wisconsin. Most notable was the precipitation that finally eased our state’s drought conditions, but the month was also marked by warmer-than-average temperatures that contrasted with a winter-like Halloween.

One could be forgiven for forgetting September marked the start of meteorological fall. In Wisconsin and beyond, the continued historic hot and dry conditions sure felt more like mid-July. 

Meteorological summer ended as one of the driest on record. The continued drought conditions were accompanied by a short but intense heat wave in August that included temperatures above 100 degrees.

The increased rainfall Wisconsin received in July 2023 unfortunately did little to alleviate the state’s drought conditions — in fact, our drought actually got worse.

Intense drought conditions quickly took hold in June thanks to a lack of rainfall and exceptionally dry air. Meanwhile, parts of the state saw some of the worst air quality in the country due to the wildfires in Canada. Temperatures were warmer than normal but the nights were comfortable, one positive of the prevailing dryness.