Milwaukee, WI – As Wisconsin moves into Black Friday weekend, state weather officials are urging Milwaukee-area homeowners to complete winter preparations before another round of freezing nighttime temperatures reaches the region.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), La Niña may bring sharper temperature swings to the Upper Midwest this season, increasing the risk of burst pipes, ice dams, and heating system strain. Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay are all expected to see overnight lows fall into the low 20s late Friday into Saturday as colder air settles across southeastern Wisconsin.
Home maintenance specialists recommend prioritizing high-impact winterization tasks this week. That includes insulating exposed pipes, especially in basements, garages, and older housing structures found throughout Milwaukee County. Clearing gutters and downspouts is essential to reduce ice dams, which can form as melting snow or rain freezes during overnight temperature drops.
Energy experts urge residents to seal drafty windows and doors, assess attic insulation levels, and test furnace performance before the stronger cold pattern arrives in early December. State fire officials emphasize the importance of checking smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, noting that heating-related emergencies rise sharply in Wisconsin following Thanksgiving.
With many families hosting gatherings or traveling through the holiday weekend, emergency managers recommend checking on elderly neighbors or community members who may need help preparing their homes for the colder weather ahead.
