Milwaukee, Wis. – The pavement is already warming under bright sunshine, and the lake breeze will offer only limited relief as southeast Wisconsin heads into one of its hottest stretches of the summer. Conditions remain quiet this morning, but the afternoon heat will become the day’s biggest hazard.
According to the National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan, sunny skies will push temperatures to 94 degrees today, while heat index values climb as high as 97 degrees. Tuesday turns even hotter with a forecast high of 97 degrees and a heat index near 100 degrees. A Hazardous Weather Outlook remains in effect for much of southeast Wisconsin due to the prolonged heat.
The hottest conditions will be felt across Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha, Ozaukee, Washington, and surrounding counties. Major travel routes including I-94, I-43, I-41, and Highway 45 should remain dry with excellent visibility, but vehicles can heat rapidly when parked in direct sunlight. Never leave children or pets inside a parked vehicle, even for a short time.
The Weather Prediction Center continues highlighting severe thunderstorms and flash flooding across portions of the Plains and Midwest. Those organized storms are expected to remain west of Wisconsin through midweek, leaving southeast Wisconsin under a hot and mainly dry weather pattern. Thunderstorm chances are expected to return toward the weekend.
Residents planning outdoor work, festivals, or sporting events should schedule frequent breaks, drink water before feeling thirsty, and seek air-conditioned spaces during the hottest part of the afternoon. Heat-related illness becomes more likely after several consecutive days of high temperatures and warm nights.
Temperatures ease slightly by Thursday, with highs near 89 degrees, before settling into the upper 80s through the weekend. Long-range outlooks continue to favor above-normal temperatures during the next 6 to 10 days, suggesting summer heat will remain a dominant weather story across Wisconsin.
Five-Day Forecast for Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Today: Sunny and hot. High 94°F. Heat index 97°F. Low 74°F.
- Tuesday: Sunny and hot. High 97°F. Heat index 100°F. Low 76°F.
- Wednesday: Sunny and hot. High 96°F. Low 73°F.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny. High 89°F. Low 70°F.
- Friday: Mostly sunny with a 20% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. High 88°F. Low 69°F.
