Whitefish Bay has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to 16°, and about 40 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Whitefish Bay at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Whitefish Bay’s climate
Read from where Whitefish Bay sits among Wisconsin’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
What a year in Whitefish Bay feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
Living with Whitefish Bay’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
173 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 26 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 18.
About 40" a winter over 13 days with an inch or more, most in January. Snow covers the ground about 58 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 90% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 17 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 80°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 0.9 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 →40 inches of snow, 34 of rain and melt
June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 120 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
About 173 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 26 and the first by October 18.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Whitefish Bay and its neighbors
Milwaukee has the coldest January nights next door (15°) and Milwaukee the hottest July afternoons (82°). 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 Whitefish Bay averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.0°).
A bigger shift than in 56% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Whitefish Bay compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Wisconsin.
Whitefish Bay 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 | 30° | 16° | 1.6" | 11.0" | 10 | 20 | 12° – 34° |
| February | 33° | 19° | 1.6" | 9.9" | 9 | 17 | 14° – 36° |
| March | 42° | 27° | 2.0" | 5.3" | 9 | 7 | 27° – 49° |
| April | 53° | 36° | 3.7" | 1.5" | 12 | 1 | 36° – 50° |
| May | 65° | 46° | 3.7" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 49° – 61° |
| June | 75° | 57° | 4.3" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| July | 80° | 63° | 3.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 66° – 78° |
| August | 79° | 62° | 3.7" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 66° – 76° |
| September | 72° | 55° | 3.2" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 57° – 68° |
| October | 60° | 43° | 2.8" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 47° – 58° |
| November | 46° | 32° | 2.1" | 2.0" | 9 | 2 | 30° – 48° |
| December | 35° | 22° | 1.9" | 9.8" | 10 | 12 | 16° – 38° |
| Year | 56° | 40° | 34.1" | 39.5" | 120 | 58 |
Heating and cooling a home in Whitefish Bay
90% 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. January swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 12° to 34°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Whitefish Bay’s climate
What is the coldest month in Whitefish Bay?
January, with a typical high of 30° and a low of 16°.
What is the hottest month in Whitefish Bay?
July, with a typical high of 80° and a low of 63°. About 17 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Whitefish Bay get?
About 40 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Whitefish Bay?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 18, and the last spring frost by April 26.
What is the rainiest month in Whitefish Bay?
June, with 4.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 34 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Whitefish Bay.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Whitefish Bay itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Mt Mary College, 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.