Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI
Issued by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI
156 FXUS63 KMKX 191622 AFDMKX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI 1022 AM CST Wed Nov 19 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Slight chances (~10-20%) for rain on Thursday, particularly across the east. - Temperatures hovering near or just above normal this weekend into early next week. && .UPDATE... Issued 1020 AM CST Wed Nov 19 2025 No major changes to the going forecast. Dry and quiet today with highs in the 40s. Lows in the upper 30s to around 40 tonight, with lingering stratus clouds preventing fog formation. High temps lift to the low 50s (roughly 10 degrees above seasonal norms) for Thursday, with lingering clouds and a light southwest breeze. Slight chances (10-20%) for light rain on Thursday, driven by the WAA aloft. Only a few hundredths of an inch rainfall if applicable. Sheppard && .SHORT TERM... Issued 334 AM CST Wed Nov 19 2025 Today and Tonight: Clearing across east central and central Wisconsin this morning has brought developing fog and low level stratus to the region. The mid level clouds across south central, southwestern and far southern Wisconsin is slowly eroding this morning which could lead to further fog development overtime. As temperatures drop below freezing and fog develops there will be a potential for some freezing fog. Road temperatures over the last couple of days have been in the upper 30s to low 40s which leads to skepticism on how much road ways will be impacted by freezing fog. Elevated sfcs that can be surround by colder air, like bridges and over passes may have a few slick spots, but not anticipating any widespread impacts. For freezing fog to occur it will need to be dense as well with visibilities to a quarter of an inch or less which is very patchy and sporadic at this time. A Dense Fog advisory has been issued for the northern two tiers of counties as the areas of patchy fog are likely to expand under the clear skies and light winds. Low lying areas with good low level moisture are likely to see the fog earlier, think river valleys and marshes. Lake shore areas are likely to be spared from any freezing fog as Lake Michigan is insulting temperatures in the mid to upper 30s. The long and short is to have extra caution when driving this morning, especially on bridges and overpasses, not only for the potential for slick spots, but also for the low visibilities. High pressure that is overhead early this morning will drift east today reaching the central lower mitten of Michigan by this afternoon. Winds will increase as the high pulls away mid to late morning. Fog will likely rise and burn off prior to this as the sun rises, but any increase in the winds (even if its only a couple kts) will just help further.Low stratus and mid level clouds are likely to persist through the day. So while it will be dry, overcast skies are expected. Patterson && .LONG TERM... Issued 334 AM CST Wed Nov 19 2025 Thursday through Tuesday: Looking at a bit more active pattern for the end of the week as southern WI will sit between two upper-level shortwave troughs. First one is progged trek across central Canadian while clipping the Upper Great Lakes region. The associated surface low with this system will remain well north of the area and works its way across Hudson Bay while dragging a weak cold front across the Upper Midwest. Ahead of this front will see southerly winds build in through the morning Thursday and result in milder temps creeping back into the 50s before the cold front pushes through. Still thinking this will mainly be a dry frontal passage as moisture is trap further south, while the upper-level dynamics set up north of southern WI. While cannot rule of maybe some sprinkles mainly north of I-94, overall will run with a dry forecast. Colder airmass will attempt to push in overnight bringing upper 20s to mid 30s lows, but may be held up by the approaching shortwave trough/low from the southern Plains. The second of shortwave trough glancing southern WI will lift up from the southern Plains overnight Thursday and into the Mid- Mississippi River Valley into Friday. The associated low with this trough is progged to stay south and track up the Ohio River Valley. While there is a bit more favorable dynamics/forcing to clip southern WI capable of producing some precip on the north side of the passing low, the mid-range models are trending the better forcing to stay south of the WI/IL border. So will see how if this trend continues and if so could see a drier forecast. For the weekend will have near normal temps as high pressure works its way across the region for Saturday. Then looking at another low and trough to track well to the north of WI across central Canada with another cold front pushing through the area. Again long range models a trending dry with the late weekend frontal passage. Temps will trend above normal Sunday into the beginning of next week. Also looking at a bit more of a progressive pattern heading into the holiday week. However the 500mb cluster analysis favors more of a split flow regime across the central CONUS, which hints at much of the precip to skirt around southern WI. Wagner && .AVIATION... Issued 1020 AM CST Wed Nov 19 2025 This morning`s fog has largely cleared out and will continue to lift. That said, low stratus cloud cover is encroaching from the southwest and should overtake the region over the next several hours based on the latest model guidance. Hence, a brief window of VFR for most areas through late this morning, followed by MVFR ceilings this afternoon into Tonight. Guidance suggests these ceilings may lower to Fuel Alt MVFR (included in the TAFs) or even IFR levels Tonight into early Thursday morning, but on the bright side, these same clouds will prevent fog formation. Light and variable winds expected today and tonight. A light southwesterly breeze takes over on Thursday, with lingering clouds and slight chances (10-20%) for a trace of light rainfall / sprinkles. MVFR ceilings appear likely to linger through Thursday, especially west of the Kettle Moraine hills. Sheppard && .MARINE... Issued 334 AM CST Wed Nov 19 2025 Light northeast to northwest winds are expected early this morning as high pressure of 30.2 inches moves into Wisconsin. This high will move east across the central portion of the lake late this morning bringing a period of light and variable winds. By this afternoon/evening south to southeast winds are expected behind the exiting high and ahead of a low pressure system of 29.6 inches developing in Manitoba. This low will deepen to near 29.5 inches over the Hudson Bay by Thursday afternoon. The low development and progression will result in a southwest wind shift across Lake Michigan, with winds becoming gusty late Thursday morning and afternoon. Highest gusts are expected over the northern third of the waters, where 20-25 kt readings are currently forecast. Gales are not expected, though trends will continue to be monitored. A cold front will cross the waters Thursday night, resulting in northwest winds Friday into Saturday morning. Patterson && .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