Climate in Dubuque, IA

Dubuque climate

Cold winters and freezing nights call for heating, snow, drainage, and route planning

NOAA's Dubuque Regional Airport normals for 1991 to 2020 show an annual mean of 47.2 degrees Fahrenheit, 38.20 inches of precipitation, about 6.1 days at or above 90 degrees, 144.0 freezing-minimum days, and 16.0 nights at or below zero. January averages 26.5 degrees high and 11.1 low at the station.

Inspect heating, insulation, windows, roof, gutters, snow storage, driveway slope, sidewalks, trees, drainage, summer shade, air conditioning, backup power, and the route to care through ice, snow, heavy rain, or heat.

Living through the seasons

Summers are the easier season. Winter comfort deserves a closer look.

Overall Comfort: Good

Average Summer High: 81°F
Days Above 90°F: 8 days/year
Summer Feel: Excellent

Average Winter Low: 14°F / -10°C
Days Below Freezing: 154 days/year
Winter Feel: Poor

The shape of the year

Humidity, comfortable months, and sunshine show how the seasons differ.

Humidity: 79%
Comfortable Months: 5 months
Solar Exposure: 1429 peak sun hrs/yr

Air, allergies, and weather

Air quality and allergies shape day to day comfort. The best months and weather risks help with timing.

Air and allergies

Air Quality: Excellent
Allergy Levels: Poor

Current AQI

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Current PM2.5

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Timing and weather

Long Term Fine Particle Pollution: 5.8 µg/m³ 2021-2025 modeled average
Best Months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Toughest Months: Feb, Jan, Dec
Heat Risk: Low
Drought Risk: Moderate
Weather Volatility: Moderate

Dubuque in everyday life

Could Dubuque work for you?

What may work well

The local NOAA station provides temperature, rain, heat, and freezing-night guidance.
Dubuque has museums, library services, parks, trails, transit, and indoor choices.

What to think about

Snow, ice, heating, slope, drainage, power, and care access require attention.
A riverfront or bluff micro-location may feel different from the airport station.

Choose Dubuque for the whole year

Inspect heating and cooling
Review HVAC, insulation, windows, shade, roof, filters, ventilation, and power.
Price winter resilience
Ask about snow, ice, gutters, drainage, roof, stairs, trees, insurance, power, and safe routes.
Keep indoor choices
Pair the library, museums, theater, parks, meals, programs, and home activities during heat, rain, snow, or ice.

Questions retirees ask

What is Dubuque weather like?

The local normals show cold winters, freezing nights, warm summers, regular rain, and occasional very cold nights. Heating, snow, drainage, cooling, and route planning matter.

What should I inspect before buying?

Review heating, cooling, insulation, roof, gutters, snow storage, stairs, slope, trees, drainage, power, flood coverage, and the route to care.

Dubuque's climate choice depends on heating, snow and ice planning, drainage, cooling, power, indoor options, and routes that remain manageable through the Upper Mississippi seasons.

Sources

Climate comfort helps estimate how practical daily life may feel across the year, especially for heat, humidity, cold, and seasonal constraints.

Seasonal timing, health conditions, air conditioning, air quality, and elevation can change the lived experience.

NASA POWER
Used for Overall Comfort, Summer Feel, Average Summer High, Days Above 90°F, Winter Feel, Average Winter Low, Days Below Freezing, Humidity, Comfortable Months, Solar Exposure, Best Months, Toughest Months, Allergy Levels, Heat Risk, Weather Volatility
Open-Meteo / Copernicus CAMS, checked against U.S. EPA AirData
Used for Air Quality, Long-Term Fine-Particle Pollution
Checked 2026-05-18
Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index
Used for Drought Risk

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Research and writing byGrant Gibson

How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.