NWS Milwaukee Forecast Discussion
799 FXUS63 KMKX 242011 AFDMKX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI 311 PM CDT Thu Sep 24 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Slightly below normal temps continue for the next several days. - Patchy dense fog in southwestern Wisconsin is possible early Friday morning. - Next chances for storms return Tuesday into Wednesday. && .SHORT TERM... Issued 311 PM CDT Thu Sep 24 2026 Tonight through Friday night: Partly cloudy skies and a steady, light easterly wind through this evening. Moderate swim risk continues into this afternoon along Lake Michigan beaches. Stay away from dangerous areas like piers and breakwalls. Strong high pressure over Ontario will continue to bring low dewpoints and generally prevent showers along a ridge of mid- level WAA from making it all the way to Lake Michigan tonight. However, as low pressure strengthens in the Canadian Prairies, expecting the ridge of WAA to bring isolated to scattered showers (15-30% coverage) to southwestern and south- central Wisconsin late this evening through early Friday morning, before exiting to the south and west as easterly winds return. After showers move through, patchy dense fog is possible early Friday morning in southwestern Wisconsin, especially in low- lying areas. Friday, expect gradually clearing skies and highs in the upper 60s as high pressure builds into the Great Lakes region. Dry conditions continue through Friday night, with clear skies leading to additional fog potential as temperatures fall toward the dewpoint. Expect lows in the upper 40s. MH && .LONG TERM... Issued 311 PM CDT Thu Sep 24 2026 Saturday through Thursday: High pressure lingers over the Great Lakes region through the weekend into early next week, gradually sinking southward into the Ohio Valley by Tuesday. Expect highs around 70 degrees each day and lows around 50 degrees each night through Monday. Monday night into Tuesday, winds turn southerly and increase as high pressure exits and several shortwaves in the Plains phase to create a broad area of low pressure progressing eastward. Gusty southerly winds will bring highs into the low 70s. As low pressure progresses eastward into this new airmass, thunderstorm potential returns to the area. Uncertainty with the strength of the low remains, and therefore too early to tell any severity of storms that do develop. Stay up to date with the forecast. WAA lingers through Tuesday night, with lows in the 60s, before a cold front moves through the area early Wednesday morning. Expect a return to highs in the 60s and lows in the low 50s Wednesday into Thursday, with perhaps some lingering rain through Wednesday as low pressure lingers in the area. MH && .AVIATION... Issued 311 PM CDT Thu Sep 24 2026 VFR conditions are expected to prevail through this afternoon, with diurnal cumulus generally above 3000 ft. Overnight, isolated to scattered showers (15-30% coverage) will spread southeastward through southwestern to south-central Wisconsin, exiting into early Friday morning. As showers exit, a few areas of very low stratus and fog are possible in southwestern Wisconsin. Any fog and stratus will lift into the mid-morning hours, with another round of diurnal cumulus between 4000 and 5000 ft on Friday afternoon. Skies gradually clear into Friday night. MH && .MARINE... Issued 311 PM CDT Thu Sep 24 2026 Strong high pressure over Ontario will weaken to around 30.4 inches tonight, leading to continued very light east winds. Light east to southeast winds will prevail for the rest of the week and into the weekend as high pressure builds farther south into the Great Lakes region. High pressure will progress into the Ohio Valley into Tuesday, allowing winds to turn southeasterly and increase as low pressure develops in the central Plains. MH && .MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. LM...None. && $$ Visit us at weather.gov/milwaukee Follow us on Facebook, X, and YouTube at: www.facebook.com/NWSMilwaukee www.x.com/NWSMilwaukee www.youtube.com/NWSMilwaukee