Any questions about the presence of summer were swept away in last week’s recent heat wave, which saw temperatures soar into the high nineties and low one hundreds across the Milwaukee metro.
Temperatures in the city of Milwaukee peaked at 94 degrees, with heat indexes peaking at 105 degrees. The highest heat index recorded in Southeastern Wisconsin during the past heat wave was 109 degrees in Kenosha. Heat index is a number used to represent what the temperature feels like to the human body when combined with relative humidity.
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This most recent heat wave was not the hottest that Milwaukee has seen before. National Weather Service data shows that the highest air temperature recorded in Milwaukee was 105 degrees back in July of 1934. The highest recorded temperature in the state of Wisconsin was recorded in the Wisconsin Dells in July of 1936, when the high temperature reached 114 degrees.
These temperatures are in line with trends that have been seen across Southeastern Wisconsin in the last five years. Temperatures on average have been about 2 degrees above normal. The last time Milwaukee saw a heat wave of similar magnitude was in August of 2024, when high temperatures reached 94 degrees, with heat indexes reaching into the low one hundreds.
Tim Hallbach, a safety coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service, says that it is not abnormal to see these high temperatures this time of year. He pointed out how the growth status of crops such as corn and soybeans across the Midwest can play a factor in the humidity, which in turn impacts how hot it feels like to the human body.
“If we have crops that are grown, that helps keep our dew points higher, which also keeps our temperatures up and makes it more humid,” Hallbach said.
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During heat waves, experts stress the importance of taking proactive steps to stay safe. Stay hydrated by increasing your water consumption, even if you are not feeling thirsty. Light, loose fitting clothes improve airflow to and from your body and can help keep your body temperature down. Hallbach also emphasizes the importance of looking out for those who are most vulnerable.
“The elderly might have a harder time putting an air conditioning unit in or taking storm windows off,” Hallbach said. “If you’re a neighbor of someone that’s elderly, just check on them and see if they need any help.”
In addition to elderly neighbors, it is also important to look out for young kids, especially when in cars. Hallbach suggests leaving an important item with your child in the backseat of your car, such as a purse or a cell phone. This is especially important for parents of newborn babies.
“Anybody that’s been a parent knows you are sleep deprived when a new child comes along,” Hallbach said. “And in a hot car, that can be a place where people sometimes [forget to look].”
