Milwaukee woke up on the soggy side Tuesday, with light rain and stiff southerly winds already working over the shoreline. By the morning commute, Mitchell Airport was clocking temperatures near 55°F and sustained winds around 35–40 mph, making it a wet and noticeably breezy start to the day.
The National Weather Service is flagging the rest of the day as one to watch, warning that strong to severe storms could move into the area tonight, with damaging winds, an isolated tornado and locally heavy rainfall all in the mix, according to NWS Milwaukee. A Flood Watch is already in place for parts of the region in the short term.
What To Expect Today And Tonight
Temperatures will stay on the warm side despite the clouds, with highs near 70°F before dropping into the mid-60s by late afternoon. Showers and a few thunderstorms could pop up this morning and again toward late afternoon, but the main event arrives tonight, when storms may drop three quarters to an inch of rain in spots and kick out damaging wind gusts. If you have Tuesday evening plans outside, it may be time to move them indoors or at least keep one eye on your weather alerts.
Wednesday And The Week Ahead
Forecasters are tracking another round of possible severe weather on Wednesday, with additional heavy rain and a chance that storms could line up into more organized, damaging squall lines. The stormy pattern hangs around through Thursday before a much cooler and drier air mass settles in for the weekend.
Flood Risk And Why It Matters Here
Even a bit of extra rain can cause headaches in low-lying neighborhoods and on streets still recovering from last summer’s extreme flooding. In response, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District has sped up roughly $96 million in flood-management projects designed to add storage and cut down on street flooding, according to the Daily Reporter.
How To Stay Safe And Where To Check
Bring in or secure patio furniture and trash cans, avoid driving through standing water and plan for a little extra time on both the midday and evening commutes. For the latest watches and warnings, keep up with local officials and the National Weather Service, and be ready to head for higher ground if water starts creeping up near your home.
