A full-fledged heatwave, complete with blistering temperatures and tropical humidity, is set to start this weekend. Most indications are that it isn’t going to break until next weekend.
It all starts Saturday when temperatures soar into the middle to upper 80s. It gets hotter on Sunday, with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. Monday will be in the low 90s.
Slight relief appears to be in the cards on Tuesday, when highs will be in the mid to upper 80s. Then, it’s right back into the 90s for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The humidity will be at persistently stifling levels during the entire stretch. Dewpoints will climb to around 70 on Saturday, then into the low to mid 70s Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Middle to upper 70s aren’t out of the question for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The heat index, which is the temperature our bodies perceive it to be when relative humidity is considered along with the reading on the thermometer, will be over 100 degrees many afternoons during the heat wave. In fact, it will likely exceed 105 degrees at times.
On top of the heat, it appears it will remain very dry. During the week-long heat wave, it’s likely that parts of the area will receive no rain at all. Scattered thunderstorms seem to be most possible on Saturday, Monday night, Thursday and Friday.
Still, even if these do develop, it’s reasonable to expect that they will only affect parts of the area.
Here’s my detailed forecast:
Saturday
Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Highs in the middle to upper 80s.
Dewpoints around 70.
Afternoon heat index in the low 90s.
Sunday
Mostly sunny.
Highs in the upper 80s to low 90s.
Dewpoints in the low to mid 70s.
Afternoon heat index near 100.
Monday
Partly sunny.
Highs in the low 90s.
Dewpoints in the mid 70s.
Afternoon heat index 102-104.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny.
Highs in the mid 80s to near 90.
Dewpoints in the low to mid 70s.
Afternoon heat index in the mid to upper 90s.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny.
Highs in the low to mid 90s.
Dewpoints in the mid 70s.
Afternoon heat index near 102-104.
Thursday
Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Highs in the mid 90s.
Dewpoints in the mid to upper 70s.
Afternoon heat index 105-110.
Friday
Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Highs in the mid 90s.
Dewpoints in the mid to upper 70s.
Afternoon heat index near 105-110.
Craig is a meteorologist who was born and raised in Pewaukee. After getting a degree in Meteorology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he worked over 20 years on TV and radio in Milwaukee, Madison, Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City, Missouri.
Craig spends most of his time trying to keep up with his bride and their three teenage daughters. Any time left over is spent with his other beloveds, the Packers, Brewers and Badgers.
