Wittenberg Weather by Month and the Best Time to Visit

Central Wisconsin does not do mild. Wittenberg weather swings from January highs around 23°F to July highs near 80°F, and the village sees about 55 inches of snow in an average winter. The comfortable stretch for visitors runs from mid-May into September, which lines up with Community Days in June and the best months on the trails.

The numbers below are 1991 to 2020 climate normals from NOAA weather stations, compiled for Wittenberg by myPerfectWeather. They tell you what to expect in a typical year. For the next three days, use the National Weather Service forecast.

Wittenberg weather at a glance

Wittenberg has warm, fairly humid summers, a short shoulder season on each side, and long cold winters with steady snow. July is the warmest month, January is the coldest, June is the wettest and December brings the most snow.

Annual precipitation averages about 33 inches, counting snowmelt. Snow typically starts in November and the last of it falls in April, which leaves roughly six snow-free months from May to October.

Even July nights cool off: the average low is 58°F, so pack a layer for evenings outside.

Wittenberg weather by month

Here is the month-by-month picture, in °F and inches. Highs and lows are daily averages for the month; precipitation and snowfall are monthly totals.

Source: NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals as compiled by myPerfectWeather. Year-to-year swings are big here, so a given January can run 10 degrees either side of these averages.

Sunshine, humidity and wind by month

Wittenberg gets about 2,445 hours of sunshine a year, which is on the low side, and most of it lands between May and September. July averages 10.6 hours of sun a day; December manages 3.0.

Dew point is the better humidity guide than relative humidity. Under 50°F feels dry, 50 to 60°F feels comfortable, and above 60°F starts to feel sticky. Wittenberg only touches that line in July, which is why summer here feels warm rather than steamy.

Wind is steady rather than fierce, averaging 6 to 9 mph year-round. It matters most in March and April, when a 40-degree day with a 9 mph wind feels closer to freezing.

Summer in Wittenberg: June to August

Summer in Wittenberg is warm, green and the easiest time to visit, with highs from the mid-70s to about 80°F. June is the wettest month at about 4.5 inches, so build a rain plan into any June weekend.

June also brings Wittenberg Community Days around Washington Park, with rides, music, a Saturday night fireworks show and a parade on Sunday. July has the longest days, with about 15 and a half hours of daylight around the solstice, and the most sunshine of the year. An evening cone at Britt's, open until 7pm Wednesday to Sunday, is the obvious end to a hot day.

Humidity is noticeable but rarely miserable: the average July dew point sits around 60°F. Bring bug spray for anything near the water.

August is the quiet sweet spot: still 78°F on average, slightly drier than June and July, and with the clearest skies of late summer. It is a good month for the trail and the lake before the school year starts.

Fall in Wittenberg: September and October

Fall is short and good. September still averages 70°F highs with cool nights in the 40s, and October drops to about 57°F with the first frost nights. September is wetter than people expect, with about 3.8 inches of rain, the same as July, so pack a shell.

The 14-mile Rustic Road 47 on County M is the color drive, through farm fields, conifer stands and past a round barn. Fall is also the best riding season on the Wiouwash Trail through Wittenberg, once the bugs have gone and before the snow.

The first measurable snow usually holds off until November, though a dusting in late October is not unusual.

Winter in Wittenberg: November to March

Winter in Wittenberg is cold and snowy, with January highs around 23°F and lows near 6°F. December and January each bring about 12 inches of snow, and February is close behind.

Days are short: around the December solstice there are less than nine hours of daylight, and December is the cloudiest month. Roads are plowed and life carries on, but give yourself extra time on Highway 29 after a storm.

Snowmobiling is the big winter draw in Shawano County. In Eland, 3 miles north, the Mountain-Bay State Trail carries sleds through the winter, and riders need a Wisconsin registration or a snowmobile state trail pass. Check county trail conditions before you go, since trails open and close with the snow.

The other winter options are warm ones: the indoor pool and hot tub at the Best Western, and the slots and restaurant at Ho-Chunk Gaming Wittenberg, open into the early morning hours.

Driving in winter around Wittenberg

Highway 29 is the main east-west route through Shawano County, and smaller county roads like County M on Rustic Road 47 can stay snow-covered longer after a storm. Check Wisconsin's 511 road conditions service before a winter drive, and keep a scraper, a blanket and a full tank between November and March. Deer are active at dusk year-round on the roads around the village, and more so in fall.

March deserves its own note. It still averages 7.5 inches of snow, but highs reach 39°F, so expect slush, frozen mornings and muddy afternoons in the same week.

Spring in Wittenberg: April and May

Spring is a fast, muddy switch from winter to summer. April averages 53°F highs with about 5 inches of late snow still possible, and May jumps to 67°F.

The crushed-stone and grass rail trail can stay soft after the thaw and after rain, so take a mountain bike rather than a road bike. The playground and shelters at Washington Park make an easy outing once the weather turns warm.

Wind picks up in March and April, averaging about 9 mph, which makes those months feel colder than the thermometer says.

By late May the trees have leafed out and the lake and the outdoor patios start to feel like summer. Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer season across this part of Wisconsin.

Daylight through the year

Daylight in Wittenberg ranges from about 15 hours 35 minutes on June 21 to about 8 hours 47 minutes on December 21. That is nearly seven hours of difference, and it shapes a visit more than people expect.

In June you can ride the trail after dinner and still finish in daylight. In December the light is gone by late afternoon, so plan outdoor time, Rustic Road drives and the Nueske's run for the middle of the day, and save the bowling alley and the casino for the evening.

What to pack for Wittenberg weather

Pack for the season you are in and the one next to it. Weather here changes fast across a day, and the gap between the afternoon high and the overnight low runs about 20 degrees in spring and fall.

For summer, bring shorts plus a long layer for evenings, rain gear for June, sunscreen, and insect repellent for the lake, the river and the trail. For spring and fall, bring a fleece or insulated jacket, waterproof shoes for muddy trail sections, and a hat for cold mornings.

For winter, bring a real winter coat, insulated boots with grip, gloves and a hat. If you plan to snowmobile, you will need full riding gear, since wind chill on a sled is far colder than the air temperature.

The best time to visit Wittenberg

The best time to visit Wittenberg is mid-May through September, when about 141 days a year fall in the comfortable range. June is the pick if you want Community Days, and September is the pick for fewer bugs and cooler nights.

Come in winter if you snowmobile or just want the casino and the bowling alley to yourself. Nueske's store keeps its Monday to Saturday hours, so the bacon run works in any season. The rest of the things to do in Wittenberg shift with the seasons too, especially the events calendar.

How to check the forecast

For a live forecast, use the National Weather Service page for Wittenberg, WI 54499, which includes hourly graphs and active winter storm warnings. The normals above are planning numbers and will not warn you about the storm coming on Thursday.