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Dangerous, prolonged heat in southeast Wisconsin this week; what to know

By
FOX6 News Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Updated June 29, 2026 8:52 AM CDT Published June 28, 2026 11:15 AM CDT
article

The Brief

    • Dangerous heat in the Midwest is prompting weather alerts for multiple states, including Wisconsin.
    • Heat indices can reach the triple digits in most locations.
    • Prolonged high temperatures and dew points can cause life-threatening conditions.

MILWAUKEE - A large part of Wisconsin is under an extreme heat warning. This includes Fond du Lac, Dodge, Jefferson, Washington, Waukesha, Walworth, Racine, Kenosha, Sheboygan, Ozaukee, and Milwaukee counties.

This will be in effect through 7 p.m. Wednesday, where heat index values can reach up to 106°F during the day and 75°F at night.

Heat-related illnesses are favorable under these conditions, so it is important to stay hydrated, stay out of the sun and in an air-conditioned room, limit time outdoors, and check on your neighbors. Additional heat headlines may be added this week as conditions warrant.

With a heat index this high, it is favorable for heat-related illnesses to occur such as cramps, exhaustion, and heat strokes. This will be favorable to people of younger and older age, those with underlying health conditions, and anyone with prolonged exposure outside.

Heat indices look to be over 100°F Monday and Tuesday with the potential on Wednesday and Thursday depending on cloud cover and if there are any storms in the afternoon. 

Due to the high temperatures and sunlight this week, a chemical reaction can take place with pollutants in the atmosphere creating bad ground-level ozone, leading to poor air quality. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued and air quality alert for lakeshore counties (Sheboygan, Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha) until 11pm Monday. 

It is favorable that additional air quality alerts will be issued throughout the week.  Poor air quality will be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including those who have asthma, those who are elderly or younger, those who have respiratory and/or hear related issued. Below are tips to protect yourself. 

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A heat dome will sit near the Ohio River Valley, creating a constant southerly wind transporting hot and humid air from the Gulf of Mexico into Wisconsin. Often along the outer rim of the dome, we get something called the "ring of fire."

This is where there is a shift in air masses creating storms to fire up around it. This can increase the chances of storms next week. 

Overall, high temperatures will be 10°F to 15°F above normal with daily temperatures reaching the low to middle 90s.

Southeast Wisconsin is expected to have five consecutive days with 90+ degree weather. The last time we had this stretch of heat was back in 2021. If Saturday reaches the 90s, that could mark a stretch of six days in a row which Milwaukee has not had since 2006.

Evening low temperatures are forecasted to stay in the low to middle 70s, creating little relief from the heat even at night. 

Dew points remain in the oppressive category even heading into the fourth of July weekend. 

It is important to find ways to stay hydrated, limit the amount of time spent outdoors, and find ways to stay cool, especially if you don't have air conditioning. Tips on how to beat the heat are below.

You might think taking a dip in Lake Michigan will help cool you off, but it will be dangerous to enter the water in Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties from Sunday night through Monday night due to life-threatening waves and dangerous currents. As the wind direction changes this week, the waves will lower.

Your FOX6 Weather Experts will have you covered with the latest this week! Stay safe, stay cool, and stay tuned!

FOX6 Weather Extras

Local perspective:

Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:  

FOX6 Storm Center app

FOX LOCAL Mobile app

FOX Weather app

FOX Weather

Maps and radar

We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.

School and business closings

When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.

FOX6 Weather Experts in social media

The Source: Information in this post was provided by the FOX6 Weather Experts and the National Weather Service. 

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