Weather in Dubuque

Stay up to date with the latest weather conditions in the city of Dubuque. Below you will find current data, forecasts, and useful weather charts to help plan your time.

The climate of Dubuque is classified as continental, with four clearly defined seasons and significant temperature fluctuations throughout the year. Travelers planning a visit to this USA city should be prepared for cold winters and warm, sometimes hot, summers, which is a characteristic feature of this region. The weather here offers a classic change of seasons, allowing you to choose the optimal time for a trip according to your personal temperature preferences.

The winter months in Dubuque, from December to February, are typically frosty. Average air temperatures consistently stay below freezing, especially in January, which is the coldest month of the year (average temperature around -5.5°C). Spring, from March to May, brings gradual warming: March can still be cool, but by May, comfortable warm weather sets in (average temperature in May is around 16.7°C). Summer, lasting from June to August, is warm in Dubuque, and at times hot, with peak temperatures in July (average temperature around 23.7°C). Autumn, from September to November, is a picturesque transitional season with gradually decreasing temperatures, preparing the city for the arrival of winter.

Precipitation in Dubuque is distributed throughout the year, although the total amount, according to the provided data, remains very low, averaging just 2-4 mm per month. Despite the calendar noting between 7 to 13 days with precipitation each month, this typically indicates minor rain or drizzle rather than heavy downpours. Thus, there is no distinct rainy season or dry period in Dubuque, but it should be noted that the overall annual precipitation level is low.

Significant seasonal temperature fluctuations are observed in the city of Dubuque. The coldest month is typically January with an average temperature of -5.5°C, while minimum temperatures can drop to -9.3°C, and maximums rarely rise above -1.8°C. February also remains frosty, with an average temperature of -4.0°C. The hottest month is July, when the average temperature reaches 23.7°C, and daytime highs can climb to 28.3°C. June and August are also very warm, with average temperatures of 22.2°C and 22.5°C respectively.

The summer months in Dubuque are characterized as warm and even hot. Daytime temperatures from June to August consistently exceed 27°C, while nights remain quite warm, with minimum temperatures around 17-19°C. This creates comfortable conditions for a summer holiday, although it can sometimes be quite sultry. Winter, by contrast, brings real frosts. From December to February, average temperatures stay below zero, and night frosts are a common occurrence. In January and February, minimum temperatures regularly drop significantly below -8°C.

The transitional seasons – spring and autumn – demonstrate a gradual change in temperatures. In March, the average temperature rises to 3.7°C, and in May it reaches a comfortable 16.7°C. In autumn, the temperature begins to decrease: in September it is still quite warm (19.6°C), but by November it drops to 3.9°C. Throughout the year, noticeable diurnal temperature variations are observed, especially in the spring and autumn months, when the difference between daytime highs and nighttime lows can be quite significant, reaching 10-12°C (for example, in April and October).

In Dubuque, a fairly even distribution of precipitation is observed throughout the year, although some seasonal features can be highlighted. Winter months, such as January, February, and December, are characterized by a low amount of precipitation (about 2 mm), which, given average temperatures significantly below zero (from -5.5°C in January to -0.9°C in December), predominantly falls as snow. In March, precipitation remains at the level of 2 mm, but with the temperature rising to +3.7°C, both snowfall and rain are possible.

The greatest amount of precipitation falls in late spring and early summer. April, May, and June are the wettest months, with 4 mm of precipitation falling in each. During this period, precipitation falls as rain, as average temperatures rise significantly. In July, August, September, and October, the amount of precipitation decreases slightly to 3 mm per month. November again shows a decrease in precipitation to 2 mm, and with an average temperature of +3.9°C, this can be either rain or early snow.

regarding the frequency of precipitation, the highest number of "wet" days is observed in May (13 days), as well as in April, June, and July (12 days each). The lowest number of days with precipitation occurs in February and November (7 days each). Overall, there is no distinct dry season in Dubuque, but the winter and late autumn months receive less precipitation by volume, while the spring and summer months are characterized by both a larger amount of precipitation and a higher frequency of rainy days.

When planning a trip to Dubuque, it is important to prepare for noticeable seasonal weather changes. In winter (December-February), it is cold here: for example, in January, temperatures usually range from -9.3°C to -1.8°C, and in February from -8.7°C to 0.8°C. Therefore, your suitcase must include very warm items: an insulated jacket, a hat, gloves, a scarf, and thermal underwear. Although the amount of precipitation in winter is small (about 2 mm per month), it often falls as snow, so waterproof and warm footwear will be very useful. Summer (June-August), on the other hand, is warm. In July, the hottest month, temperatures can range from 19.2°C to 28.3°C, and in June and August, daytime highs also often exceed 27°C. For this period, light clothing is suitable, but do not forget sunscreen and a hat. Despite the warmth, rain is also possible in summer (on average 9-12 rainy days per month with 3-4 mm of precipitation), so a light rain jacket or an umbrella will be useful.

Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) in Dubuque are transitional seasons with changeable weather. It is still cool in March, with temperatures ranging from -1.0°C to 8.3°C, but by May it becomes significantly warmer, with temperatures in the range of 11.5°C to 21.8°C. In autumn, the weather gradually changes from warm in September (temperatures from 14.8°C to 24.4°C) to cool in November (from 0.3°C to 7.6°C). In these transitional periods, the principle of layering clothing is especially relevant: t-shirts, sweaters, and light jackets that can be removed or put on depending on temperature changes throughout the day. The number of rainy days remains quite high (from 7 to 13 days per month), so a waterproof jacket or umbrella should be on your packing list. Regardless of the time of year, comfortable walking shoes are an absolute necessity, as you will likely be walking a lot while exploring Dubuque and its surroundings.