Excessive Heat Warning In Effect - Also, Historical Heat Details

Hot weather is expected tonight into Saturday.

Please take heat seriously to keep yourself, your kids, neighbors, and pets safe. Tips are at the bottom of this page.

An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect until 9PM Friday for Sauk, Columbia, Marquette, Green Lake, Fond Du Lac, and Sheboygan counties.

The Excessive Heat Warning will continue until 8PM Saturday for Ozaukee, Washington, Dodge, Iowa, Dane, Jefferson, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Lafayette, Green, Rock, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha counties.

Forecast High Temperatures and Forecast Maximum Heat Index for Saturday.

Forecast Lows (top row) and Forecast Minimum Heat Index (bottom row)

Tonight	Tomorrow Night

Averages

While these temperatures are not uncommon, it is still important to take the heat seriously. We see these temperatures every year and issue a heat advisory on average about once per year. About half of all summers we see a 4 day stretch of 90+ degree days.

Madison averages 10 days per year at 90 or higher.

Milwaukee averages 9 days per year at 90 or higher.

Recent notable hot years were 2012, when there was a big drought, and 1995, which was a killer heat wave.

Normal temperatures for this time of year are:

	Madison	Milwaukee
Normal High	82	80
Normal Low	61	64

Check out this page for statistics on heat index. Southwest Wisconsin averages 3-7 days with a heat index over 95. Southeast Wisconsin averages 1-3 days with a heat index over 95.

Records

Record Highs and Year	7/17	7/18	7/19	7/20	7/21
Madison	100 (2012)	95 (1894)	97 (1964)	97 (2011, 1930, 1901)	104 (1901)
Milwaukee	100 (2012)	97 (1991)	98 (1932)	100 (1930, 1901)	99 (1983)

Record High Minimums	7/17	7/18	7/19	7/20	7/21
Madison	80 (1878)	77 (2011)	79 (1870)	76 (1934)	79 (1901)
Milwaukee	79 (2013, 1878)	79 (2013)	79 (2013, 1935)	78 (1991, 1932)	79 (2011)

Record dewpoint values are:

81 in Madison in July 18, 2011 and July 13 and 14, 1995

82 in Milwaukee in July 30, 1999 and July 4, 1977

Why is this happening?

There is a bubble of warm air over the south-central U.S. Southwest winds into southern Wisconsin are bringing a warm, moist airmass into the region.

Safety