Sun Prairie has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 11°, and about 52 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Sun Prairie at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Sun Prairie’s climate
Read from where Sun Prairie sits among Wisconsin’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
About 160 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 1 and the first by October 10.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
52 inches of snow, 37 of rain and melt
June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 126 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
What a year in Sun Prairie feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
Living with Sun Prairie’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
160 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 1 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 10.
About 52" a winter over 15 days with an inch or more, most in January. Snow covers the ground about 78 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 92% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 9 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 82°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 8.2 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 →Sun Prairie and its neighbors
Sun Prairie has the coldest January nights next door (10°) and Burke 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.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Sun Prairie averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.7°).
A bigger shift than in 63% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Sun Prairie compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Wisconsin.
Sun Prairie 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 | 27° | 11° | 1.4" | 13.7" | 11 | 24 | 8° – 31° |
| February | 31° | 14° | 1.4" | 12.8" | 10 | 22 | 11° – 34° |
| March | 44° | 24° | 2.2" | 7.0" | 11 | 10 | 26° – 49° |
| April | 57° | 35° | 3.7" | 2.6" | 13 | 1 | 37° – 52° |
| May | 69° | 47° | 4.2" | 0.1" | 13 | 0 | 52° – 64° |
| June | 79° | 57° | 5.4" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 65° – 72° |
| July | 82° | 61° | 4.3" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 65° – 79° |
| August | 80° | 59° | 4.0" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 65° – 75° |
| September | 73° | 51° | 3.6" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 56° – 67° |
| October | 60° | 39° | 2.9" | 0.6" | 10 | 0 | 45° – 56° |
| November | 45° | 28° | 2.2" | 3.0" | 10 | 3 | 28° – 46° |
| December | 32° | 17° | 1.6" | 12.0" | 10 | 16 | 11° – 35° |
| Year | 57° | 37° | 36.9" | 51.8" | 126 | 78 |
Heating and cooling a home in Sun Prairie
92% 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 11° to 35°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Sun Prairie’s climate
What is the coldest month in Sun Prairie?
January, with a typical high of 27° and a low of 11°.
What is the hottest month in Sun Prairie?
July, with a typical high of 82° and a low of 61°. About 9 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Sun Prairie get?
About 52 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Sun Prairie?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 10, and the last spring frost by May 1.
What is the rainiest month in Sun Prairie?
June, with 5.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 37 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Sun Prairie.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Sun Prairie itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Madison Dane Rgnl Airport, WI (8 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.