Live · KMSN · reported 10 min ago
Barometric pressure in Madison, WI today
30.07inHg
1018.4 hPa (mb)
- 3-hour change
- −0.05 inHg · −1.7 hPa
- 24-hour range
- 30.07 – 30.20 inHg
- Station (absolute) pressure
- 29.13 inHg
- Barometer dial reads
- Change · slightly high
Madison at a glance
How elevation shapes the reading in Madison
Madison is about 876 ft (267 m) above sea level. That is close to sea level, so the pressure you stand in and the sea-level figure in the forecast are nearly the same.
The reading above is the altimeter setting from Madison/Dane Cnty Rgnl (KMSN), 9 km (5 mi) from the city center. It is the station’s measured pressure corrected to sea level, which is the number weather reports, apps and TV forecasts use, so you can compare Madison with any other city.
Madison elevation and what it means · Sea-level vs station pressure
| Elevation | 876 ft · 267 m |
|---|---|
| Weather station | Madison/Dane Cnty Rgnl (KMSN) |
| Station elevation | 860 ft · 262 m |
| Standard air pressure at this elevation | 28.99 inHg · 982 hPa |
| Air pressure vs sea level | 97% |
| Water boils at | 210.4 °F · 99.1 °C |
| Time zone | America/Chicago |
Reading the barometer
Is the pressure in Madison high or low?
Today’s reading is slightly high. Weather pressure is quoted at sea level, so the same scale works for Madison and everywhere else.
- Very low Stormy < 29.50
- Low Clouds, rain 29.50–29.80
- Normal Changeable 29.80–30.20
- High Fair 30.20–30.50
- Very high Dry, clear > 30.50
Frequently asked questions
What is the barometric pressure in Madison today?
The live reading at the top of this page is the latest sea-level pressure reported by Madison/Dane Cnty Rgnl (KMSN), 9 km (5 mi) from the city center. It updates about every 10 minutes; the graph shows the last 24 hours.
What is normal barometric pressure in Madison?
Weather reports for Madison use sea-level pressure, so “normal” is the same as anywhere: about 29.92 inHg (1013 hPa), with most days between 29.60 and 30.30 inHg (1002–1026 hPa). Readings above 30.20 inHg are high pressure; below 29.80 inHg is low pressure.
Why does a barometer in Madison read lower than the forecast?
Madison is close to sea level (about 876 ft), so absolute and sea-level pressure differ by only about 0.94 inHg (32 hPa). A larger gap usually means the barometer needs to be calibrated against the reading on this page.
Is the pressure in Madison rising or falling?
See the trend badge under the reading: it compares the latest report with the one three hours earlier. Falling pressure usually means clouds, wind or rain on the way; rising pressure means clearing and more settled weather.