689 FXUS63 KMKX 140905 AFDMKXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan WI 405 AM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- The fog diminished quickly from north to south early this morning due to drier air working into the region.
- A period of light rain is likely (~50-75%) for much of southern Wisconsin tonight. The chance of rain quickly lowers Wednesday morning.
- Active end to the week with breezy conditions and several opportunities for showers and a few thunderstorms Thursday through Sunday.
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.SHORT TERM... Issued 405 AM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025
Today through Wednesday:
The dense fog over southeast Wisconsin cleared quickly overnight as drier air spread into the region from the north. The dewpoints lowered 5 to 10 degrees over 1 to 2 hours as the fog was clearing.
A secondary push of cooler, drier air is working its way down Lake Michigan, and arrived at Sheboygan at 3AM. The leading edge of this front features a period of northerly wind gusts up to 25 mph along the lakeshore and some low clouds. These gusty and cloudy conditions should reach Milwaukee around 5AM only last a few hours and only affect lakeshore areas. However, they could linger over Racine and Kenosha Counties a little longer. This is due to a building pressure gradient as a strong high inches into the Great Lakes region and lingering moisture over southern part of Lake Michigan. Winds will become easterly this afternoon.
Yet another push of cooler air will arrive from the north overnight. This will give lakeshore areas, but also inland areas, breezy east-northeast winds and additional low clouds. This low level moisture and frontogenesis will play an important role in our precip chances tonight as well.
A shortwave trough will ride the mid level ridge through SD this afternoon and track across WI overnight. The right entrance region of the upper jet and 925-850mb warm air advection will provide additional lift for showers along this feature. The majority of the moisture will be in the upper levels, as dry air is currently residing in the low levels over southern WI today into this evening (dewpoints in the lower 40s).
When that front tracks down Lake Michigan overnight, we will see a region of convergence and low level frontogenesis and increased low level moisture spread into southern WI. This will help saturate the column at the time the mid/upper level forcing moves overhead, and give us a period of light rain. This should occur mainly between 1 and 5 AM. By 12Z/7AM Wed morning, the favorable region of the upper jet and shortwave will have exited WI. This will end our steadier rain. However, the surface front and low level moisture will linger over southern WI through late morning. Eventually drier air will work into the area from the northeast and scour out any residual light rain or drizzle and low clouds.
Cronce
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.LONG TERM... Issued 405 AM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025
Wednesday night through Monday:
A 500 mb ridge axis should build into the region Wednesday night into Thursday, then shift east Friday. High pressure at the surface should slide southeast into the region Wednesday night into Thursday, before south winds develop Thursday night into Friday.
The low level jet axis and more focused warm air advection should remain just to the west of the area, though some of the warm air advection should work into the area during this time. This may be enough to bring some showers and perhaps a few storms into the area at times. Temperatures will be on the upward swing, with well above normal temperatures expected on Friday with the increasing south winds.
The main cold front should push east through the area later Friday night or early on Saturday. A pre-frontal band of showers and some thunderstorms should move through the area Friday night, from low level frontogenesis response and the focused warm air advection moving over the region. The precipitation may end by midday Saturday, as cold air advection behind the front moves into the area. It should remain warm until the front moves through across the area.
A rather deep 500 mb trough should then develop and shift through the region Saturday night into Sunday, with northwest flow on the backside of the trough into Monday. Some lingering moisture may result in scattered showers at times during this period. Temperatures should cool down to near or a little above seasonal normal values Saturday night into Monday.
Wood
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.AVIATION... Issued 405 AM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025
A small area of low clouds with bases around 1000 ft is accompanying gusty northerly winds (gusts up to 22kt) along a front that is tracking quickly down the Lake Michigan shoreline early this morning. This is affecting Sheboygan right now and will reach Milwaukee around 5 AM. The low clouds and gusty winds should only last 2 to 3 hours before scouring out, but confidence is lower toward Kenosha. Overall, expect VFR conditions for the rest of southern WI today through this evening.
An area of showers is expected to spread into central WI this evening from the west, and then sink into southern WI during the overnight hours. The showers will have a hard time reaching the surface during the evening due to low level dry air, thus producing virga. Later in the night, a surface front will arrive from the northeast and stall over southern WI. This will feature breezy easterly winds and MVFR ceilings, especially near Lake Michigan, and bring us that period of steadier rain.
Low clouds (likely MVFR) are expected to linger through late Wednesday morning over south central WI and may feature drizzle or light rain. Drier air will return Wednesday afternoon.
Cronce
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.MARINE... Issued 405 AM CDT Tue Oct 14 2025
Breezy northeast to east winds will continue through tonight as high pressure builds into the northern Great Plains. The high will cross Lake Michigan on Wednesday, allowing winds to taper across the waters. Winds will become southerly on Thursday as low pressure develops over the northern Great Plains. The low will deepen near Lake Winnipeg Thursday night through Friday, allowing winds to increase further across Lake Michigan. Gusts could approach gale force during this time. Winds will remain breezy as they become southwest on Saturday. Gusty northwest winds are expected on Sunday behind a cold front, with gale force gusts possible.
Added the nearshore zone up to Sheboygan to the current Small Craft Advisory and started the headline right now due to a cold front bringing a period of gusty northeast winds a little earlier than expected. Persistent northeast to east winds will keep high waves over the nearshore areas of southeast WI through mid Wednesday morning.
Cronce
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.MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WI...Dense Fog Advisory...WIZ070-WIZ071- WIZ072 until 6 AM Tuesday.
LM...Small Craft Advisory...LMZ643-LMZ644-LMZ645-LMZ646...7 AM Tuesday to 10 AM Wednesday.
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NWS MKX Office Area Forecast Discussion