284 FXUS63 KMKX 291903 AFDMKXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI 203 PM CDT Mon Sep 29 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Patchy fog possible later tonight.
- Slightly cooler Tuesday & Wednesday, with temperatures climbing well above normal Thursday through Friday.
- Isolated to scattered shower & thunderstorm chances (~15-30%) return Saturday evening through Monday.
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.SHORT TERM... Issued 206 PM CDT Mon Sep 29 2025
Tonight through Tuesday night:
Synopsis/Mesoanalysis: High pressure is centered over the Lakes Huron & Ontario vicinity this afternoon, resulting in variable to light southwesterly winds across southern Wisconsin. Responsible for the scattered cumulus clouds currently over Racine & Kenosha Counties, a lake breeze is beginning to develop near the Lake Michigan shoreline, and will gradually work inland through the late afternoon hours. Locations along/behind the boundary can expect an easterly wind shift & modestly cooler surface temperatures in its wake. Currently directly overhead, upper ridging will gradually shift toward Lake Huron through the period, allowing surface high pressure currently along the Manitoba-Ontario border to migrate toward the southern Hudson Bay. The high`s progression will allow east-northeast winds to become established across the area on Tuesday, resulting in slightly cooler highs relative to today. Scattered upper clouds will move into the region after midnight, though patchy fog will be possible in locations experiencing clear skies through the overnight hours tonight.
Rest Of This Afternoon: Well above-normal temperatures are forecast away from Lake Michigan/the slowly-advancing lake breeze. Temperatures should remain below record thresholds (90 in Madison in 1953), though trends will be watched through the rest of the afternoon.
Tonight: Expect some patchy fog development after midnight, particularly in areas experiencing clear skies and calm winds. Forecast guidance depicts the best potential for calm winds along & west of the Kettle Moraine, which is where patchy fog mentions have been placed in the afternoon update. Model solutions don`t show a robust signal for dense fog, though observations will be watched through the overnight hours.
Quigley
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.LONG TERM... Issued 206 PM CDT Mon Sep 29 2025
Wednesday through Monday:
Synopsis: Upper ridging will progress east during the second half of the week, advancing from the western Great Lakes into Saint Lawrence Valley & Appalachians by Friday. The ridge`s advance will allow for surface high pressure to migrate into the Northeast by the end of the week, with winds shifting out of the south during the Thursday- Friday time frame. The southerly wind shift will allow a warmer air mass to advect into southern Wisconsin from the Mississippi Valley, with well-above normal high temperatures forecast by Friday. Upper troughing will progress into the western CONUS Thursday through Friday, slowly working eastward toward the Northern Plains through the weekend. Responding to the western troughing, increasing upper divergence will support isolated shower and thunderstorm chances Saturday night into Sunday. Additional scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible Sunday night into Monday as a cold front approaches southern Wisconsin from the west. Uncertainty remains regarding the best timing windows for rain during the Saturday night through Monday time period, with all-day washouts not currently anticipated.
Thursday through Friday: High temps will trend upward, with readings climbing into the 15 to 20 degree above normal range by Friday afternoon. Current forecast shows highs in the low to mid-80s away from Lake Michigan, with readings in the 70s near the water. In the event this forecast verifies, said high temps would at least challenge the October 3rd records in Madison (85 in 2005), with slightly lower record potential closer to Lake Michigan in Milwaukee (86 in 2018). Will be watching trends through the rest of this week.
Saturday through Monday: Scattered shower and thunderstorm chances return to the forecast as upper troughing slowly works toward the Northern Plains. With the area still on the edge of the eastern CONUS upper ridge, tend to think that any activity will be highly isolated through Sunday, with better precip potential holding off until the arrival of the better-defined frontal boundary Sunday night into Monday. Have maintained NBM precip probabilities in the afternoon update, and will continue to monitor trends.
Quigley
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.AVIATION... Issued 206 PM CDT Mon Sep 29 2025
VFR conditions prevail this afternoon at all southern Wisconsin terminals, and will continue through the rest of the period. Light south to southwesterly winds will continue through late afternoon. An easterly wind shift is anticipated at eastern aerodromes behind the lake breeze by late afternoon. Winds will become light and variable once again overnight. FEW to SCT upper level clouds based between FL200 and FL250 will begin to move in after midnight. Areas of fog development are possible during the predawn hours, particularly where skies remain clearer through sunrise. Uncertainty regarding fog coverage & locations has precluded any mentions in the 18Z update. Trends will be monitored through this evening/tonight.
Quigley
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.MARINE... Issued 206 PM CDT Mon Sep 29 2025
Light and variable winds continue across the waters this afternoon as 1026 mb high pressure lingers over Lake Ontario. Patchy fog is possible over far northern portions of the open waters tonight. Currently centered over northern Manitoba, a second area of 1028 mb high pressure will drift into Ontario tonight through Tuesday, allowing east-northeast winds to become established over Lake Michigan. The high will strengthen to near 1032 mb as it settles along the Ontario-Quebec border Tuesday night through Wednesday, maintaining generally easterly winds. The high will advance into the northeastern United States through the end of the week, allowing winds to turn out of the south Thursday through Friday. Broad low pressure will form over the northern Great Plains Saturday, and will gradually attempt to work toward the upper Mississippi River Valley by the end of next weekend. Chances for isolated showers and thunderstorms return to the forecast Sunday through Monday.
Light and variable winds continue in nearshore zones through tonight, ultimately turning east-northeasterly Tuesday and Tuesday night. Patchy fog is possible tonight. Generally easterly winds will continue through Wednesday night. Given fetch, periods of elevated wave heights are possible Tuesday night through Wednesday night, though it`s uncertain if any such conditions will be widespread/long- lasting enough to warrant Small Craft Advisories. Trends will be monitored in coming forecasts. Winds will turn southerly through the end of the week, with isolated shower and thunderstorm chances returning by the end of next weekend.
Quigley
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.MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...None. LM...None. &&
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