Manitowoc, WI climate
Manitowoc has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 78°, a January night drops to 14°, and about 35 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Manitowoc feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Manitowoc 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27° | 14° | 1.6" | 7.8" | 8 | 9° – 31° |
| February | 30° | 16° | 1.2" | 10.0" | 7 | 12° – 33° |
| March | 39° | 25° | 1.9" | 3.2" | 7 | 25° – 45° |
| April | 50° | 34° | 3.2" | 1.4" | 9 | 35° – 48° |
| May | 62° | 44° | 3.5" | 0 | 11 | 47° – 58° |
| June | 72° | 54° | 4.3" | 0 | 10 | 60° – 68° |
| July | 78° | 60° | 3.5" | 0 | 10 | 64° – 74° |
| August | 76° | 60° | 3.4" | 0 | 9 | 63° – 73° |
| September | 70° | 52° | 2.7" | 0 | 9 | 55° – 65° |
| October | 57° | 41° | 3.0" | 0.2" | 10 | 45° – 54° |
| November | 44° | 30° | 2.1" | 0.9" | 8 | 29° – 45° |
| December | 32° | 20° | 1.7" | 11.1" | 7 | 14° – 36° |
| Year | 53° | 37° | 32.2" | 34.6" | 104 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Manitowoc
Manitowoc gets 32 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 104 days a year.
About 171 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 30 and the first one by October 20. That leaves about 171 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 59% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Manitowoc
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Manitowoc, 95% of that work is heating and 5% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Manitowoc and its neighbors
Manitowoc borders 5 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.2°. Manitowoc Rapids has both the coldest January nights (12°) and the hottest July afternoons (79°). Manitowoc’s January low is 14° and its July high 78°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Manitowoc compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Manitowoc averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.1°). The shift is larger than in 76% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Manitowoc’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. January swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 9° to 31°. June is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Manitowoc’s climate
What is the coldest month in Manitowoc?
January, with a typical high of 27° and a low of 14°.
What is the hottest month in Manitowoc?
July, with a typical high of 78° and a low of 60°. About 3 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Manitowoc get?
About 35 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Manitowoc?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 20, and the last spring frost by April 30.
What is the rainiest month in Manitowoc?
June, with 4.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 32 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Manitowoc itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Manitowoc, WI (2 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.