Arctic air will persist across southern WI this week. It is not unusual to have a cold snap in February, but this may feel like a shock to the system after relatively mild conditions in December and January.
Click here for the hourly weather forecast for your location (select your location on the map):
What are record and normal temperatures for this time of year?
Madison
| Records: | Low Minimum | Low Maximum | Normals: | Low | High | Observed: | Low | High | |
| February 5th | -21 (1936) | -8 (1895) | 12 | 28 | 3 | 15 | |||
| February 6th | -19 (1977) | -5 (1875) | 13 | 28 | -7 | 8 | |||
| February 7th | -21 (1875) | -2 (1893) | 13 | 29 | -15 | 0 | |||
| February 8th | -22 (1899) | -7 (1875) | 13 | 29 | |||||
| February 9th | -28 (1899) | -15 (1899) | 13 | 29 |
Milwaukee
| Records: | Low Minimum | Low Maximum | Normals: | Low | High | Observed: | Low | High | |
| February 5th | -17 (1895) | -4 (1936) | 17 | 30 | 7 | 25 | |||
| February 6th | -14 (1982) | 4 (1875) | 17 | 30 | 3 | 12 | |||
| February 7th | -20 (1875) | -1 (1893) | 17 | 30 | -7 | 5 | |||
| February 8th | -18 (1899) | -3 (1875) | 18 | 31 | |||||
| February 9th | -22 (1933) | -11 (1899) | 18 | 31 |
What is the longest stretch of days with highs of 10°F or lower?
Madison:
Milwaukee:
What is the longest stretch of days with minimum temperatures below 0°F?
Madison: 21 (record set in 1895)
Milwaukee: 18 days (record set in 1895)
We are looking at below-normal temperatures persisting through mid February.
Winds will be steady out of the west early this week then out of the north later in the week. The wind combined with the very cold temperatures will give us dangerously cold wind chills. Here is a chart that shows how wind chill values are calculated:
We issue Wind Chill Advisories for Southern Wisconsin when wind chill values are expected to reach -20°F or lower. This map shows the average number of days that we hit wind chill values of -20°F or lower (for at least an hour), compliments of the Midwest Regional Climate Center. Click on the image to go directly to the MRCC webpage and find more information. On average, the NWS Milwaukee office issues ~3 Wind Chill Advisories per year.
Keep up with the latest forecasts, weather story graphics and situation reports.
https://www.weather.gov/mkx/weatherstory
https://www.weather.gov/media/mkx/sitreport/SitReport1.pdf
What is the Polar Vortex?
https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-polar-vortex
NWS Milwaukee
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