Has this been the worst spring weather Milwaukee has ever seen? Here's what NWS says
With temperatures in the mid-40s and near constant rain, some Milwaukeeans may be wondering if warm weather will ever come —or if this is one of the worst springs the Cream City has ever experienced.
But, despite what it may feel like, Milwaukee's weather is actually "sitting pretty average" for the season thus far, National Weather Service Meteorologist Taylor Patterson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The NWS defines meteorological spring as the months of March, April and May.
Patterson said it is 'definitely colder than normal" this week and heading into Memorial Day weekend, as temperatures are typically around 66 to 68 degrees at this time of year.
'We are in a cooler spell, but that's just part of the month and also larger season as a whole,' Patterson said.
Overall, this is the 65th coldest spring so far in Milwaukee in the last 154 years, according to Patterson. 'So not quite dead center, but still in that middle ground,' she said.
In terms of precipitation, this is the 36th wettest spring so far in Milwaukee. Patterson noted this "value is likely to change" towards the end of June since Milwaukee is still in the middle of spring.
More: Summer is almost here. What to know about the start of the 2025 season in Wisconsin
NWS data shows there have been 11 days of rain in May so far, totaling 3.77 inches. That's 1.41 inches above normal — and there's a chance Milwaukee could see small showers Sunday. March also saw 4.19 inches of rain, or 1.99 inches more than normal. The only month below normal was April, which saw 1.09 less inches of rain than years prior.
Last year, Milwaukee saw its third-wettest spring on record, followed by a rainier-than-normal summer. Patterson said a "big shocker" for the season was in 2023, when May only saw 0.88 inches of rain. The lack of precipitation across the region ultimately triggered a drought from May to June that year.
Milwaukee's wettest May on record was in 1933, when the city received a whopping 9.56 inches of rain, according to Patterson.
Even though Milwaukee's weather has been less than ideal, you can expect the tide to change in the coming days.
"Temperatures will start to gradually increase," Patterson said. "So we will start to get those 60s and potentially 70s back in our forecast again."
More: What will summer weather be like in Wisconsin in 2025? Here's what the Old Farmer's Almanac predicts
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee weather: Is spring 2025 colder, wetter than usual?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Heat dome continues to raise temps across South and Midwest, will begin to move into Northeast
The 'heat dome' that has hovered over tens of millions of people in the South and Midwest this week is now spreading into parts of the Northeast on Thursday, according to the Weather Channel. A heat dome is a high-pressure bubble in the upper levels of the atmosphere that traps hot air and sun radiation underneath it. The Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit focused on climate change advocacy and education, compares heat domes to putting a lid on a hot pot; the lid keeps the hot air from leaving the pot and keeps the contents of the pot hot for a longer time. While late July usually is the hottest time of the year for most of the U.S., AccuWeather reports these temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the historical average. An 'Extreme Heat Watch' advisory alert, which warns 'dangerous heat is possible,' was issued for West Virginia on Thursday. An 'Extreme Heat Warning' alert, which warns 'dangerous heat is happening or about to happen,' was sent to areas in Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York on Wednesday. Some of these extreme heat warnings were sent to major cities like Boston, Detroit, New York City and Washington, D.C., where temperatures will reach the mid-90s by Friday, the Weather Channel reported. However, temperatures in these areas are expected to drop over the weekend. Parts of the Midwest and the South will still be in temperatures near or above 100 degrees through the rest of the weekend, and potentially into the middle of next week. Florida, which has been experiencing hot and muggy conditions across the state all week, will continue to experience high temperatures in the upper 80s to lower 90s on Thursday and Friday, according to Florida Disaster, a division of the state's Department of Emergency Management. The state's heat index values will be particularly high on the western side of the Florida Panhandle, compared to the rest of the state. (The National Weather Service (NWS) 'heat index' is a calculator that estimates what outdoor temperatures feel like to the human body.) Experts cannot determine exactly when the heat dome will end. Heat domes take a long time to break down, Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist at the NWS's Weather Prediction Center, told Scientific American, so the extreme heat is expected to last through the rest of the week for some areas. 'Corn sweat' drives up humidity in the Midwest As heat index values in the Midwest peaked this week because of the heat dome, high humidity levels have contributed to 'corn sweat' in these areas. Corn sweat is a colloquial nickname for evapotranspiration, which is when plants, like corn stalks, release water vapor into the air and essentially turn it into additional humidity that can drive up humidity levels and heat index numbers in the area, according to the Weather Channel. Today's weather term is "corn sweat".Yes, it's a real thing, and it's likely to become more noticeable into next you know that 1 acre of corn gives off about 3,000-4,000 gallons of water each day?Here's a little more about the transpiration process. — NWS Sioux Falls (@NWSSiouxFalls) July 20, 2023 This mostly affects people in the Midwest, with residents in Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky experiencing heat index numbers in triple-digits because of the corn sweat, the Washington Post reported. The corn sweat has also impacted these areas' dew points, which correlate to how much moisture is in the air, NWS explains. The higher the dew point, the more muggy and wet the air will feel. A dew point minimum of 75 equates to an extreme humidity level and feels 'oppressive, like a tropical rainforest,' according to the Washington Post. In areas affected by the corn sweat, such as southern Missouri, the dew point is at 88. Northeast, Midwest also warned about severe thunderstorms AccuWeather meteorologists alerted on Wednesday that severe thunderstorms are expected to move across the Midwest before hitting the Northeast in the next few days. These storms carry the potential for high winds and hail, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. The worst of the storms are expected to hit throughout Thursday afternoon and evening, mostly impacting cities like Chicago, Detroit, Oklahoma City and Kansas City, before shifting into the Northeast on Friday. While it's rare to see precipitation happen within a heat dome, severe thunderstorms are likely to form around its edges, often called the 'ring of fire.' "In the world of meteorology, the ring of fire deals with thunderstorms along the northern edges of strong upper-levels high,' AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. 'Oftentimes, this setup produces severe thunderstorms along the northern edges of the heat.' How to stay safe in extreme heat Extreme heat is the deadliest type of weather in the U.S., even more so than tornadoes, flooding or hurricanes, according to research by the NWS. Prolonged extreme heat, as is expected in the heat dome this week, is especially dangerous for people who do not have access to air-conditioning or who spend a lot of time outdoors. If you live in a place that will be impacted by the heat dome, here's what to do to help protect yourself: Stay indoors and cool for as long as you can. Here is a list of public places you can go to for free air conditioning. Stay hydrated. It's helpful to add electrolytes to your water to further protect yourself from dehydration. If you need to go outside, protect your skin by wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, sun-protective clothing and UV-blocking sunglasses. Understand and look out for symptoms of heat-related illness. These include heavy sweating, fatigue, dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea and headaches. If you are experiencing these symptoms, move to a cool area to rest and hydrate.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Triple-Digit Heat Index Triggers Advisories in Nine States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Sweltering and "dangerous" heat with indices surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit across parts of nine states has prompted the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue warnings for millions of Americans. Newsweek has reached out to NWS for comment via email on Thursday. Why It Matters Extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the United States, posing serious health risks nationwide. The National Center for Health Statistics found that between 2004 and 2018, an average of 702 people died in the U.S. due to "excess heat." In addition, NWS warns that "heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events." Since 1979, more than 14,000 Americans have died from heat-related causes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Older adults, young children and people with chronic illnesses face the greatest risk from extreme heat. Prolonged heat waves can also strain local power grids as demand for air conditioning spikes. Extreme weather across the U.S. come amid the Trump administration's proposed cuts of nearly 25 percent to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and staffing reductions at NWS. New Yorkers cross 41st Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan during a heatwave on June 25, 2025, in New York City. New Yorkers cross 41st Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan during a heatwave on June 25, 2025, in New York City. CraigWhat To Know The NWS has issued a slew of extreme heat warnings and heat advisories across much of the South and Midwest, as well as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The weather agency warns that "dangerously hot conditions" are expected across portions of the states with some heat index values exceeding over 115 degrees Fahrenheit in Mississippi. Heat index values reflect how hot it feels when both temperature and humidity are factored in. Portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are all under extreme heat warnings and heat advisories. Extreme heat has persistently baked the South and Midwest over the past few weeks, as well as flash flooding. Extreme heat warnings in the region advised people to "not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles," noting that "car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes." Warnings also note that "heat stroke is an emergency" and encourage those who are feeling "overcome by heat" to be moved to a shaded, cool location and call 911. The NWS encourages people to "drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors." In an update on Wednesday, the NWS noted that while the heat isn't necessarily surprising, "when triple digits during the day barely drop to 80 overnight, it becomes extremely dangerous. Extreme and record heat is likely throughout the South through next week with extreme impacts possible for those without adequate cooling or hydration." Heat advisories are in place across dozens of states on Thursday, with NWS in San Antonio, Texas, stating in a Thursday X post: "Today will be the hottest day for many locations in over a month." What People Are Saying Ben Noll, a meteorologist at The Washington Post wrote in a Thursday X post: "Extreme humidity and heat aren't going away — yet. Another surge of corn-effect humidity from Saturday to Wednesday could be even more intense than this past week." In another post he added: "It's not just central states that will feel extreme humidity and heat. The East will too — on Friday in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, before it settles into the Southeast, where there's an extreme risk (Level 4 out of 4) for heat-related impacts into next week." Representative Gabe Amo, a Rhode Island Democrat, said in an X post: "Trump is gutting @NOAA and @NWS while climate change is causing catastrophic extreme weather. @RepHuffman and I introduced my Stop NOAA Closures Act so the President can't close labs predicting storms & leave Americans vulnerable to disasters." What Happens Next The NWS Little Rock, Arkansas forecast warns that "Dangerous heat index values will persist through next week and perhaps longer as high pressure prevails over the mid south."
CNN
3 hours ago
- CNN
Tracking heat: Here's where it will feel like 110 degrees
Extreme temperatures Climate changeFacebookTweetLink Follow Dangerous heat is peaking today for millions in the central United States as a heat dome in summer's hottest month lives up to its reputation — but sauna-like conditions are only just beginning for areas farther east. The heat index — how hot it actually feels given the temperature and humidity — will top out in the 100s from the Gulf Coast to the Midwest Thursday afternoon while it soars above 110 degrees in some parts of the Mississippi Valley. Memphis, Tennessee, had its hottest day of the year so far on Wednesday with a high of 97 degrees and a heat index of at least 106 degrees. The city could match that intense heat Thursday while just south in Greenville, Mississippi, the heat index could hit 110 degrees. Farther north, Chicago's high temperature of 94 degrees could come within a degree of its hottest day so far this year. That same roasting summer heat started creeping into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Thursday. High temperatures in the 90s are likely Thursday afternoon as far north as Burlington, Vermont – located about 30 miles from the Canadian border. The worst heat for the East arrives Friday with high temperatures in the middle to upper 90s expected from Washington, DC, to Boston. These temperatures are up to 10 degrees higher than the typical hottest conditions for this time of year and could challenge the high temperature record for the day in Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City. The heat index will reach or surpass 100 degrees for many major metros: Washington, DC, and Philadelphia will feel more like 105 degrees Friday afternoon and Baltimore will feel nearly 110 degrees at times. Heat remains the deadliest form of extreme weather in the US. Globally, heat waves are becoming more frequent, more severe and lasting longer as the world warms due to fossil fuel-driven climate change. More than 60 million people in the eastern half of the US are under at least a Level 3 of 4 'major' heat risk on Thursday, with that total jumping to more than 90 million on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Heat this severe impacts anyone without access to effective cooling or proper hydration, not just vulnerable populations, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And for those without air conditioning, staying indoors can become deadly during the hottest parts of the day, the agency warns. Humid conditions will also prevent temperatures from cooling significantly overnight. It could still be close to 80 degrees in Washington, DC, by sunrise Saturday — nearly 10 degrees higher than a typical low for late July. When overnight temperatures don't cool down enough to offer relief for overheated bodies, people are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. Nighttime temperatures are taking the hardest hit from climate change, warming faster than daytime highs. Climate change is making this week's heat wave at least three times more likely for nearly 160 million people, almost half the US population, when compared with a world without fossil fuel emissions, according to an analysis from the climate research nonprofit Climate Central. The heat dome will shrink Saturday, replaced by more typical, though still very toasty, late July conditions parts of the Northeast and Midwest. Sweltering heat will persist through the weekend, mainly in southern parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic on Saturday and in portions of the Southeast Sunday. That general trend of a hotter-than-normal South is expected to continue through next week, according to the latest Climate Prediction Center forecasts. CNN Meteorologist Briana Waxman and CNN's Luke Snyder contributed to this report.
