High Heat To Continue As Thousands Remain Without Power Thursday

ACROSS WISCONSIN — Over 60,000 Wisconsin residents remain without power Thursday morning after severe storms across much of the state Tuesday night. Thunderstorms continued Wednesday night for some.

High temperatures came after the storms. High heat is expected again on Thursday for parts of southeast, south central and central Wisconsin, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm prompted the largest cleanup We Energies has ever seen, We Energies President Tom Metcalfe said in a news conference. Over 200,000 people lost power due to the storm. Efforts continue "around the clock" to restore power for the remaining 60,000, Metcalfe said.

"We're finding more extensive damage than we even though earlier today," Metcalfe said on Wednesday in a news conference. "We've been challenged by access to some of our equipment with blocked roads and significant hazards."

Residents can track power outages on the We Energies website.

"In some cases we are having to completely rebuild parts of our network," Metcalfe said.

The damage that many woke up to Wednesday morning was extensive. Trees toppled over, occasionally striking homes and cars. Power lines were found laying on the ground after trees and branches struck them down. Winds of up to 70 mph were reported across much of the state.

In Greendale, one resident witnessed what appeared to be an explosion during the storms. Others had trees fall into their yards narrowly missing homes.

Some communities were urged to stay indoors in the wake of the storms because downed powerlines were so extensive.

The power outages came on some of the hottest days this summer. Temperatures into the 100 degree Fahrenheit range gripped southeastern Wisconsin Wednesday afternoon as thousands remained without refrigeration or air conditioning.

The National Weather Service forecasts Thursday will be another hot one. Temperatures will reach into the 90s this afternoon for much of southeastern Wisconsin. A heat advisory is in effect.

Across Milwaukee, several cooling centers have been opened for residents. Those lacking in air conditioning can use these areas in Milwaukee to cool down.

Strong to severe storms may continue Thursday afternoon for parts of Milwaukee. A cold front is expected to move through the area. Storms may develop over Southeastern Wisconsin or they may stray further south, according to the NWS.

Here's what the National Weather Service expects the rest of this week:

Thursday: Thursday will bring high temperatures into the 90s again. Strong to severe storms are a possibility for parts of southeast Wisconsin. Strong winds and large hail could be expected if a storm arises.

Friday: Sunny skies with a high near 80 degrees. No hazardous weather expected. Overnight temperatures will be around 60.

Saturday: Another sunny day is expected with a high near 81 degrees. Temperatures will dip to about 60 overnight. No hazardous weather expected.

Sunday: Sunny skies continue into Sunday with an expected high temperature around 81. No hazardous weather expected.