MILWAUKEE, WI — The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the Milwaukee area, in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday, with heat index values expected to reach up to 103 degrees each afternoon across east central, south central and southeast Wisconsin.
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The advisory covers Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha, Washington, Ozaukee, Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, Walworth, Rock, Green, Lafayette, Iowa, Sauk, Columbia, Marquette, Green Lake, Fond du Lac and Sheboygan counties. The weather service is urging residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air conditioning, limit strenuous outdoor activity to early morning or evening, and check on relatives and neighbors.
At the same time, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued a statewide Air Quality Advisory from noon Tuesday until noon Thursday, as wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Ontario moves into the state. The DNR says the 24 hour PM2.5 air quality index is expected to reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Very Unhealthy levels, with hourly readings potentially reaching Hazardous in some areas.
Smoke was forecast to enter northern Wisconsin Tuesday night, then push south toward an Eau Claire to Sheboygan line by Wednesday afternoon and reach a La Crosse to Janesville line by Wednesday night, with statewide impacts possible by Thursday morning.
The heaviest smoke, including possible Hazardous readings, is expected in northwest Wisconsin near Lake Superior, while communities near Lake Michigan could see lake enhanced smoke concentrations.
The DNR is advising sensitive groups, including people with asthma or heart disease, to avoid or limit outdoor physical activity during the worst air quality periods and to watch for symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath or heart palpitations.
Hot and humid conditions are expected to continue through the work week, with highs in the 90s and heat index values likely climbing back into the low 100s Wednesday. Chances for thunderstorms return by the weekend. Both the heat advisory and the air quality advisory are subject to extension, with the air quality advisory expected to be re-evaluated Thursday morning.
Wednesday: Patchy smoke after 3pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 100. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Widespread smoke, mainly after 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: Widespread smoke, mainly before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph becoming southwest after midnight.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
: SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
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