Lake Ripley has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 12°, and about 42 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Lake Ripley at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Lake Ripley’s climate
Read from where Lake Ripley sits among Wisconsin’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
About 167 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 29 and the first by October 14.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Living with Lake Ripley’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
167 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 29 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 14.
About 42" a winter over 12 days with an inch or more, most in February. Snow covers the ground about 70 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 91% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 12 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 83°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 2.5 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →What a year in Lake Ripley feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Lake Ripley averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.5°).
A smaller shift than in 61% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
42 inches of snow, 36 of rain and melt
June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 110 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Lake Ripley and its neighbors
Cambridge has the coldest January nights next door (12°) and Cambridge the hottest July afternoons (83°). Tap a town to see its climate.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
How Lake Ripley compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Wisconsin.
Lake Ripley weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 12° | 1.5" | 10.7" | 8 | 24 | 9° – 32° |
| February | 32° | 15° | 1.5" | 11.4" | 7 | 20 | 11° – 35° |
| March | 44° | 25° | 2.1" | 4.9" | 7 | 9 | 26° – 50° |
| April | 57° | 35° | 3.6" | 2.1" | 10 | 1 | 37° – 52° |
| May | 69° | 47° | 4.1" | 0.1" | 12 | 0 | 52° – 64° |
| June | 79° | 57° | 5.3" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 65° – 73° |
| July | 83° | 61° | 4.1" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 66° – 79° |
| August | 81° | 59° | 4.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 65° – 76° |
| September | 74° | 51° | 3.4" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 56° – 68° |
| October | 61° | 40° | 2.8" | 0.2" | 10 | 0 | 46° – 57° |
| November | 45° | 29° | 2.2" | 2.0" | 8 | 2 | 28° – 46° |
| December | 33° | 18° | 1.7" | 10.9" | 9 | 14 | 12° – 36° |
| Year | 57° | 37° | 36.4" | 42.3" | 110 | 70 |
Heating and cooling a home in Lake Ripley
91% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 12° to 36°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Lake Ripley’s climate
What is the coldest month in Lake Ripley?
January, with a typical high of 28° and a low of 12°.
What is the hottest month in Lake Ripley?
July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 61°. About 12 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Lake Ripley get?
About 42 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Lake Ripley?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 14, and the last spring frost by April 29.
What is the rainiest month in Lake Ripley?
June, with 5.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 36 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Lake Ripley.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Lake Ripley itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Lake Mills WWTP, WI (7 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.