Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI
Issued by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI
114 FXUS63 KMKX 080553 AFDMKX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI 1253 AM CDT Tue Sep 8 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - There may be a decaying area of showers and storms that approaches or moves into areas northwest of Madison this morning. This should continue to weaken as it moves further into the area. - A period of showers and some storms will move across the area mainly later tonight into early Wednesday morning. An isolated stronger storm with gusty winds may occur. Locally heavy rainfall is possible as well. - Moderate swim risk conditions are expected for Lake Michigan beaches in Sheboygan and Ozaukee Counties this afternoon and evening. && .SHORT TERM... Issued 1253 AM CDT Tue Sep 8 2026 Today through Wednesday: Convection over central Minnesota into northwest Iowa and to the west is being driven by 850 mb warm air advection and the low level jet. This activity is shown by the CAMs to slowly move eastward overnight into early Wednesday morning. Some disagreement with where this activity may move into this morning, as some keep the activity to the north or west, with others trying to bring it into areas northwest of Madison after 12Z to 13Z today. The warm air advection does try to shift over into Wisconsin this morning, so there may be some opportunity for this activity to make it in the northwest parts of the area. It should be weakening as it moves toward and into that area. For now, will maintain 30 to 60 percent chances for showers and some storms northwest of Madison this morning and watch trends. Otherwise, kept generally 20 to 30 percent chances for showers and some storms today in northern and western parts of the area, as the warm air advection moves over the area. Forecast soundings are showing dry low levels below 8000 feet AGL, so think anything that tries to form will be high-based and may struggle to reach the ground. Warmer and more humid conditions are expected today, with highs into the upper 70s north to the lower to middle 80s south. There should be a southeast lake breeze near the lake this afternoon. Moderate swim risk conditions are expected for Lake Michigan beaches in Sheboygan and Ozaukee Counties this afternoon and evening. South to southeast winds will increase, with building waves of 2 to 3 feet. Think these waves will remain below 4 feet at this time. CAMs try to develop some stronger convection over northeast Iowa by 00Z Wednesday, though it weakens considerably as it moves east into southwestern portions of the area during the evening. Forecast soundings continue to slowly saturate during the evening, with tall skinny CAPE aloft. Thus, it may be tough for showers and storms to develop in the evening. Forecast soundings then saturate with moist adiabatic profiles later tonight into Wednesday morning, with very tall and skinny mean layer CAPE. The low level jet brings more moisture transport into the area, with continued warm air advection. Precipitable water values reach to or over 2.00 inches as well. This suggests that mainly locally heavy rainfall would be possible, along with an isolated strong storm with gusty winds. Kept high chances (60 to 80 percent) for showers and some storms later tonight into early Wednesday morning. Most of the precipitation should exit the area by later Wednesday morning, with dry conditions in the afternoon. The main front may not move through until later in the afternoon, but most of the moisture and upward motion will be east of the area. Mild and humid conditions should linger into Wednesday, as winds shift to the west. Wood && .LONG TERM... Issued 1253 AM CDT Tue Sep 8 2026 Wednesday night through Monday: High pressure dominates the region starting Wednesday night, bringing dry and cool conditions to southern Wisconsin. Lows in the 50s are expected Wednesday night, with some potential for fog development under clear skies and very light winds. High pressure slowly propagates eastward through Friday, with southerly winds increasing into Friday, as a low pressure system deepens in the northern Plains. Highs in the upper 70s are expected both Thursday and Friday. As the low lifts into northern Ontario, a cold front will sweep southeastward through Wisconsin Friday night into Saturday, bringing the next chances for thunderstorms. With the majority of this activity developing overnight, severity looks to be highly limited (MUCAPE below 300 J/kg). PWATs of 1-1.50 inches are expected, so heavy rain may become a hazard in areas that see multiple rounds of storms. Aside from a few lingering showers on Saturday, dry conditions look to prevail as low pressure quickly lifts through Hudson Bay and the cold front stalls across the Ohio Valley. Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s are expected, with mostly dry conditions continuing overnight. The next low pressure system looks to develop in the lee of the Wyoming Rockies Saturday into Saturday night, bringing increasing southeasterly winds into Sunday as low pressure lifts into the northern Plains. With warm frontogenesis developing across the area, broad lift and instability builds into southern Wisconsin, leading to the next chances for thunderstorms Sunday through Monday. The evolution of this system remains in question, so exact time frames and intensity of thunderstorms similarly contains plenty of uncertainty. Modeling does converge on a solution of the final round of storms along a cold front on Tuesday afternoon, with a return to high pressure thereafter. MH && .AVIATION... Issued 1253 AM CDT Tue Sep 8 2026 High clouds will continue to move southeast through the area overnight into today. There may be some opportunity for a weakening area of showers and storms to make it to areas northwest of the Madison terminal after 12Z to 13Z today. It should be weakening as it moves toward and into that area. Otherwise, there are mainly small chances for showers and some storms today in northern and western parts of the area. Forecast soundings are showing dry low levels below 8000 feet AGL, so think anything that tries to form will be high-based and may struggle to reach the ground. Light and variable winds overnight should become south today. There should be a southeast lake breeze for terminals near the lake this afternoon. It may be tough for showers and storms to develop in the evening across the area, with the low levels still dry. Showers and some storms should move through southern Wisconsin later tonight into early Wednesday morning, with locally reduced ceilings and visibility values. Southwest winds are expected. Left out mention of low level wind shear later tonight for now, as conditions look borderline at best. Most of the precipitation should exit the area by later Wednesday morning, with dry conditions in the afternoon. The main front may not move through until later in the afternoon, but most of the moisture and upward motion will be east of the area. Winds will shift to the west on Wednesday. Wood && .MARINE... Issued 1253 AM CDT Tue Sep 8 2026 High pressure around 30.2 inches will remain well to the east of the region today. Meanwhile, low pressure around 29.3 inches will continue to move northeast through Manitoba into northwest Ontario. This will allow for gradually increasing southerly winds into tonight, especially over the north half of the lake. As strong low pressure around 29.0 inches enters Hudson Bay later tonight and Wednesday, winds shift southwest, then west on Wednesday, as a cold front pushes southeastward through the lake. A few gale force gusts may occur over far northern portions of the lake Wednesday. Winds become northwest behind the front, gradually weakening Thursday and Thursday night with high pressure around 30.0 inches developing over the region. Winds shift to the south again and increase into Friday, as a cold front moves into the region from the west. South to southeast winds and building waves will approach Small Craft Advisory levels this afternoon and evening for areas north of Port Washington. May see these conditions develop again Friday afternoon and evening, for areas north of North Point Lighthouse. Wood && .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