textproduct: Milwaukee/Sullivan

KEY MESSAGES

- A High Swim Risk and Beach Hazard Statement is in effect through early this afternoon, due to dangerous currents from onshore winds and high waves.

- A Small Craft Advisory is in effect through early this afternoon, due to persistent northeast winds and high waves.

- Cooler today and tonight, then generally dry conditions with temperatures warming up through early next week.

SHORT TERM

Issued 1230 AM CDT Thu May 28 2026

Overnight through Friday Night:

The 500 mb amplified ridge axis should linger over the region during this period. Some high clouds may pass through the area overnight into this morning in southwest parts of the area. North northeast winds will steadily increase overnight and become northeast today, with a tightening pressure gradient and some low level mixing during the daytime hours.

A High Swim Risk and Beach Hazard Statement is in effect through early this afternoon for the Lake Michigan beaches in Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha Counties. The gusty onshore winds are expected to bring life threatening waves and currents. Stay out of the water, and away from dangerous areas like piers and breakwalls.

These winds should gradually weaken later in the day and into tonight, as high pressure shifts southward into the region. These winds should bring highs in the 60s near the lake and into the middle to upper 70s well inland. Lows tonight should drop into the middle to upper 40s over most of the area.

High pressure will weaken Friday as it shifts to the southeast, with another high developing north of the region Friday night. This will keep dry conditions going for the area, with the potential for another backdoor cold front moving through the area later Friday night into early Saturday morning. This may bring increasing east to northeast winds for a time behind this feature.

Temperatures should rebound into the lower to middle 80s inland on Friday, with a lake breeze keeping lakeshore areas cooler. Milder lows in the middle 50s are anticipated Friday night.

Wood

LONG TERM

Issued 1230 AM CDT Thu May 28 2026

Saturday through Wednesday:

A largely benign extended forecast for southern Wisconsin. Wisconsin is largely going to be trapped in narrow ridge between a strong trough out in the eastern CONUS and another in the central High Plains/Rockies. There are a few shortwave troughs that bring some PVA aloft into state, but this varies greatly from model to model.

At the surface, a broad area of high pressure looks to linger across the Great Lakes region as well. This area of high pressure looks to descend down from Canada, then move east, gradually exiting into the eastern Great Lakes by the middle of next week.

Given all this, we can generally expect sporadic low chance PoPS from that upper level PVA slipping into the deterministic and ensemble runs (roughly 10 percent or less on PoPs). High temperatures in the lower 70s to lower 80s are anticipated, with warmer temperatures inland with cooler near the lake shore.

Light east to southeast winds Saturday into early Monday morning becoming light northeasterly Monday. Light northeast to east winds continue through the rest of the extended. Winds will be at there strongest during the afternoon, when the diurnal heating contributes the most, and weakest (light and variable at times) overnight into early morning hours.

Patterson

AVIATION

Issued 1230 AM CDT Thu May 28 2026

Some high clouds may pass through the area overnight into this morning in southwest parts of the area. North northeast winds will steadily increase overnight and become northeast today. These winds should gradually weaken later in the day and into tonight, as high pressure shifts southward into the region.

High pressure will weaken Friday as it shifts to the southeast, with another high developing north of the region Friday night. This will keep dry conditions going for the area, with the potential for another backdoor cold front moving through the area later Friday night into early Saturday morning. This may bring increasing east to northeast winds for a time behind this feature.

Wood

MARINE

Issued 1230 AM CDT Thu May 28 2026

High pressure around 30.3 inches will continue to build southward into the Great Lakes overnight into today. Gusty north northeast winds are expected to develop during this time, bringing building waves to the southwestern portions of the lake.

A Small Craft Advisory is in effect until 1 PM CDT this afternoon for the nearshore waters of Lake Michigan for the gusty onshore winds and building waves.

Winds will gradually diminish through the day, as the high moves over the region. The high pressure system around 30.2 inches will remain in place through the weekend, with a few additional weak cold fronts bringing brisk northeasterly winds Friday night into Saturday and Sunday night in Monday. High pressure around 30.2 inches generally remains in place through early next week, with light and variable winds expected.

Wood

MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

WI...Beach Hazards Statement...WIZ052-WIZ060-WIZ066-WIZ071-WIZ072 until 1 PM Thursday.

LM...Small Craft Advisory...LMZ643-LMZ644-LMZ645-LMZ646 until 1 PM Thursday.