Madison vs Appleton: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 141 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Madison and Appleton are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 2,236 vs 2,243 hours a year. Month by month it's balanced: each has the higher Sunshine Score in 3 months, with 6 within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Madison | Appleton | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,236 | 2,243 |
| Sunniest month | September (75/100) | July (76/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 0/100 | 0/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 71/100 | 74/100 |
| Rain / year | 970 mm | 879 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 7 (high) | 7 (high) |
Madison vs Appleton month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | Appleton | Madison | Appleton | Madison | Appleton | |
| January | 0 | 0 | -3° | -5° | 36 | 31 |
| February | 0 | 0 | -1° | -3° | 41 | 34 |
| March | 0 | 0 | 6° | 4° | 59 | 54 |
| April | 37 | 25 | 14° | 12° | 98 | 85 |
| May | 72 | 67 | 20° | 19° | 109 | 105 |
| June | 67 | 70 | 25° | 24° | 134 | 117 |
| July | 73 | 76 | 28° | 27° | 102 | 89 |
| August | 72 | 75 | 27° | 26° | 111 | 91 |
| September | 75 | 76 | 23° | 22° | 93 | 89 |
| October | 45 | 38 | 15° | 14° | 80 | 84 |
| November | 0 | 0 | 7° | 6° | 56 | 51 |
| December | 0 | 0 | -1° | -2° | 51 | 49 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Madison · May Madison · Jun Appleton · Jul Appleton · Aug Appleton · Sep even · Oct Madison · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Madison averages 0/100, Appleton 0/100. Madison is the warmer, around 1°C daytime highs vs -1°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Madison (average score 36/100 vs 31). Daytime highs are similar (13°C vs 12°C).
- June–August: Appleton (average score 74/100 vs 71). Daytime highs are similar (27°C vs 26°C).
- September–October: Madison (average score 60/100 vs 57). Daytime highs are similar (19°C vs 18°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Madison weather by month · Appleton weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Madison vs Chicago · Madison vs Milwaukee · Madison vs Green Bay · Appleton vs Milwaukee · Appleton vs Green Bay · all head-to-heads