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A freeze warning was issued for Milwaukee and surrounding counties on Wednesday

Posted on by Kennedy
A freeze warning was issued for Milwaukee and surrounding counties on Wednesday

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Despite summer-like temperatures last week, the Milwaukee area is expected to get an early taste of winter Wednesday morning with overnight temperatures in the 30s.

The National Weather Service Milwaukee-Sullivan office has issued a freeze warning for much of east-central and southeastern Wisconsin. Frost, freezing conditions and subfreezing temperatures of up to 29 degrees could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and potentially damage unprotected outdoor plumbing in areas covered by the warning, the weather service said.

The warning is in effect from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha, Jefferson, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Dodge, Walworth, Racine and Kenosha counties. This includes areas near Lake Michigan. Other Wisconsin counties outside the Milwaukee-Sullivan office's forecast area – including the Madison and Green Bay areas – are also under a freeze warning Wednesday morning.

NWS encourages people to take steps now to protect sensitive plants from the cold.

Thursday morning will see similarly cold temperatures around 30 degrees, but NWS is still deciding whether to issue another freeze warning for Thursday. If they issue one, it will be issued tomorrow evening.

“The main thing is, if we have already seen that frost and freeze are deadly, we may not need to issue another warning based on the fact that all sensitive plants have already died,” explained local NWS meteorologist Michaela Heeren.

What are frost warnings, frost watches and frost warnings?

With cold temperatures forecast again, you may hear a variety of terms related to cold, frost and frigid weather. Although they all indicate similar conditions, some may be more dangerous than others.

This is how the National Weather Service defines the following advisories:

  • Frost warning: A freeze warning is issued when temperatures are forecast to fall below 32°F for an extended period of time. This temperature threshold kills some types of crops and indoor plants, while temperatures below 28°F for extended periods can kill most types of crops and indoor plants.
  • Freeze Watch: Be prepared. A freeze warning is issued when there is a risk of significant, extended freezing temperatures within the next 24 to 36 hours. A Freeze Watch is issued in the fall until the end of the growing season and in the spring at the beginning of the growing season.
  • Frost warning: Be aware. A frost warning means that frost areas are expected or are occurring that pose a danger to sensitive vegetation.

Weather warnings for Wisconsin

Wisconsin weather radar

More: What is a frost advisory, a frost warning and how should I protect my garden plants?

More: The National Weather Service will no longer issue wind chill watches and warnings

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