Twenty-five percent of the United States' population and 34 percent of U.S. manufacturing volume are within 600 miles of Milwaukee. Chicago is roughly 90 miles to the south. Climate Milwaukee has four distinct seasons. Lake Michigan is a moderating influence, providing natural air conditioning in the summer and warming winds in the winter. Spring temperatures vary from the 40s to upper 60s.
Summers are warm and sometimes humid.
Fall is cool and crisp, with gorgeous colors across the state. Winter temperatures can vary from the teens to the 30s, with occasional, brief colder spells. Precipitation averages about 33 inches per year, including 47 inches of snow. Schools Nearly 800 public and private schools in metro Milwaukee offer a variety of educational experiences for elementary and secondary students. Local students achieve higher than average composite scores on the ACT college entrance exam, and Wisconsin is consistently ranked among the top states in performance on ACT and SAT tests.