Storm Team 4
Expect 100-105 degree heat index in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE - The hottest weather of 2012 so far is expected to bake Southeastern Wisconsin in temperatures just a few degrees from the century mark.
With heat indices rising near 105 degrees, the National Weather Service placed a heat advisory in effect from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday for all of Southeastern Wisconsin.
That advisory has been canceled for all southeast Wisconsin counties except Jefferson.
"The Weather Service issues a heat advisory when the heat indices rise to the level they're going to be today, triple digits," explained Storm Team 4Caster Scott Steele.
"Today, we're going to see dew points up to near 70 degrees. That's tropical humidity levels. Combined with temperatures that rise into the mid-90's, that's very dangerous."
Scott says that the worst times of the day should happen "about mid-afternoon toward this evening...the peak heating of the day is usually mid to late afternoon. That's when the dew points are going to be highest as well."
He also tells us that there will be a little bit of a lake breeze for people to enjoy at Summerfest, but perhaps not too far west from there.
"There's only going to be a small range of temperatures in Southeastern Wisconsin. It will get a little cooler along the lake today, because winds are light enough for a lake breeze to develop, but again, that will not move very far inland."
Steele says that we might not just have dangerous heat and humidity, but a storm in some areas of Southeastern Wisconsin.
"The big 'blocking ridge' in the upper levels of the atmosphere which has kept things quiet and very hot for us will begin to 'flatten' a bit today," said Scott.
"That combined with a very weak cool front could lead to some additional clouds and even an isolated thunderstorm this afternoon and evening, though most of us will continue with the very dry conditions."
Scott warns that the 90 degree temperatures should remain in our area at least through Saturday.
"Light winds will allow a bit of a lake breeze to develop cooling things off very close to Lake Michigan."
Thursday's Storm Team 4Cast from Scott Steele:
Today: Sunny to partly cloudy, hot, and very humid with a slight risk for an isolated storm-pm
Heat Index 100-105
High: Near 96
Wind: SW-NW 5-10 mph
Tonight: Mainly clear to partly cloudy, very warm, and humid
Low: Near 70
Wind: NW 5 mph
Friday: Mostly sunny and hot
High: Near 92
Wind: N-S 3-8 mph
Friday night: Partly cloudy and very warm
Low: Near 71
Wind: SW 5 mph
Saturday: Partly cloudy and still hot
High: Near 93
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