136
FXUS63 KMKX 200339
AFDMKX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
1039 PM CDT Thu Jun 19 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A thunderstorm complex developing over Minnesota overnight is
  expected to spread into south central Wisconsin Friday
  morning, but severe storms are not anticipated.

- Hot and humid conditions are expected Saturday through Monday.
  Maximum heat indices of 100 to 105 degrees are forecast each
  day. Highest confidence in reaching 105 degree heat index in
  southeast WI so an Extreme Heat Warning is in effect there.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued 1032 PM CDT Thu Jun 19 2025

A couple chances for additional scattered shower and
thunderstorm activity tonight into Friday morning. Could see the
ongoing thunderstorm activity southeast of Eau Claire continue
to develop and track southeastward into our CWA within the next
couple of hours. If a storm or two can tap into the elevated
MLCAPE, cannot rule out seeing some hail possibly up to quarter
sized.

Otherwise the complex of storms up across west central MN and
the Dakotas are progged to continue to develop overnight and
congeal into an MCS. 00z CAMs prog this complex to track
southeastward across southern MN/IA before pushing into the
Upper Mississippi River Valley around daybreak. Better
thermodynamics look to remain to the west of southern WI and
models hint at a downward trend as it moves into WI. However
cannot rule out storm reinvigorating as it slides across the
area through late Friday morning as things try to recover.
Overall the timing of this activity moving through during the
morning will limit an additional development later in the
afternoon/evening, thus limiting severe potential. If things
do happen to weaken more before pushing through (in opposition
to the model trends) and the environment can recover, then
cannot rule out an afternoon/evening round of activity.

Wagner

&&

.SHORT TERM...
Issued 352 PM CDT Thu Jun 19 2025

Tonight and Friday:

An area of showers and thunderstorms (that rolled in from a
weak storm complex that developed over northwest WI this
morning) is now tracking through southeast Wisconsin. Efficient
mixing is causing gusty winds up to 40 mph with these low-topped
storms. Another area of storms is developing in the Eau Claire
area and that may also clip our northern counties from the Dells
to Sheboygan during the late evening.

The next complex is expected to develop along the nose of the
low level jet over southeast MN early Friday morning, around 3
or 4 AM. That complex will track east-southeast into southwest
and south central WI Friday morning. The strongest portion of
that complex should remain just to the west of our forecast
area, toward northeast IA and maybe Grant County WI.
Nevertheless, with the low level jet leaning over into southern
WI, any more robust thunderstorm could mix down winds up to 50
mph for areas west of I-94. Instability will be lacking, but
shear will be strong Friday morning.

Gusty southwest winds are expected Friday from mid morning
through mid afternoon due to mixing. Temperatures will be
similar to today with highs in the lower 80s.

The 12Z GFS tries to light up showers and storms along the warm
front that will be sliding northward through southern WI Friday
night. This is the only model that is doing this so far. There
is a better chance of storms over northern WI.

Cronce

&&

.LONG TERM...
Issued 352 PM CDT Thu Jun 19 2025

Saturday through Thursday:

The weekend looks hot and humid. A 500 mb 594 dm ridge is expected
to develop across the SErn CONUS on Saturday and expand to
include most of the eastern half of the country by Sunday. A
surface high will also be centered across the SE US. To the NW, a
surface boundary will linger through the weekend from the central
High Plains to the Red River Valley. Gusty SWrly winds will exist
between these features which will pump warm and humid air into the
area through the weekend. 850mb temps are forecast to climb to the
mid 20s on Saturday and Sunday which equates to surface temps in
the low/mid 90s. Areas of far SE WI will see downsloping from the
Kettle Moraine which boosts temps a few degrees resulting in
weekend high temps in the mid/upper 90s. The SW winds will also
transport a much more humid air mass into the region with dew
points in the low/mid 70s through the weekend. The combination of
air temps in the 90s and dew points in the 70s will produce peak
afternoon heat index values near 100 degrees each afternoon. Areas
of far SE WI may see heat index values approach 105 degrees due
to the expected warmer air temps. In addition to the hot daytime
temps, overnight lows are forecast to remain quite warm in the
mid/upper 70s both Saturday and Sunday night`s.

It is possible that record high and/or record warm low
temperature records are set over the weekend. Record high temps
are more likely at MKE than MSN, but warm low temp records are
possible at both locations.

With the gusty southwest winds, dewpoints may be lowered a bit,
which would affect the heat index values. We took this into
account by blending the NBM with CONSMOS, so dewpoints are
conservative around 70 near the lakeshore each afternoon. We
have the highest confidence in southeast WI reaching heat index
values of 105 each afternoon Sat-Mon, and it is also a
vulnerable area that is used to having the lake breeze cool them
down. Without a lake breeze these days, this heat will feel
very extreme. Therefore, issued an Extreme Heat Watch for
Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha Counties Sat afternoon through
late Monday afternoon. Additional counties may need to be added.
A Heat Advisory will be needed elsewhere each day.

The upper level pattern begins to break down on Monday, but a hot
and humid day is once again expected with similar temp and heat
index conditions as from the weekend. The surface boundary is
forecast to approach from the NW late in the day representing the
next chance for showers and storms. The upper level flow becomes
more zonal by the middle of next week which would imply the
boundary will no have much of a push north or south. The forecast
for the remainder of the week depends on the position of that
boundary. This could result in multiple rounds of showers and
storms, but it is far too early to attempt to pin down timing or
location. Locations south of boundary will remain warm and
humid.

BMiller/Cronce

&&

.AVIATION...
Issued 1032 PM CDT Thu Jun 19 2025

Overall tonight should remain VFR with light and variable winds.
However, showers and storms southeast of Eau Claire may work
their way into southern WI bring a brief window for showers and
possible a thunderstorm, mainly for MSN/JVL. But confidence
remains low. Otherwise, ongoing activity upstream in SD/ND/MN
continues to congeal and shift southeastward overnight into
Friday morning bring more widespread showers with some embedded
thunderstorms mid Friday morning. This activity will spread
eastward late Friday morning, but is progged to weaken and
dissipate/push out by early afternoon. With any shower and
thunderstorm activity, can expect to see a brief window of lower
visibility and ceilings approaching MVFR level. Otherwise,
generally expecting VFR conditions into Friday with increasing
southwesterly winds.


Wagner

&&

.MARINE...
Issued 352 PM CDT Thu Jun 19 2025

Gusty southwest winds are expected Friday late morning through
early afternoon over land areas, and could impact the NSH area
within the first mile of the lakeshore. Not enough confidence in
Small Craft conditions being met, so no advisory at this time.

There is higher confidence for Small Craft Advisory criteria to
be met along the lakeshore Saturday and Sunday with gusty
southwest winds.

Cronce

&&

.MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...None.
LM...None.
&&

$$

Visit us at weather.gov/milwaukee

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube at:
www.facebook.com/NWSMilwaukee
www.twitter.com/NWSMilwaukee
www.youtube.com/NWSMilwaukee