WMTV meteorologists have declared today and the next couple of days First Alert Days as a severe thunderstorm warning threat builds for South Central Wisconsin Thursday night. People in South Central Wisconsin should expect multiple rounds of rain and thunderstorms, with the strongest risk during the late afternoon and evening hours.
The Storm Prediction Center says the setup could produce severe thunderstorms if storms organize into clusters. That would raise the chance of damaging straight-line winds and large hail, while heavier downpours could lead to minor localized flooding in low-lying areas or on roads with poor drainage.
South Central Wisconsin Thursday night
The first period of concern is Thursday night, when the severe weather risk is expected to increase across South Central Wisconsin. Afternoon highs will generally land in the 80s, and overnight lows will drop into the middle 60s, keeping the air warm enough for repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms.
The weather pattern is not limited to one burst. Daily chances for rain and thunderstorms will linger through the weekend and persist into the beginning of next week, so the threat stretches beyond the first round of storms.
Monday and Tuesday of next week
Quieter conditions are expected on Monday and Tuesday of next week as more stable air fills in. Highs are expected to return to the lower to middle 80s, before a warming trend develops through the middle of the week.
That means the immediate concern is not just one stormy evening but a longer stretch of unsettled weather. For readers in South Central Wisconsin, the practical takeaway is to watch for changing conditions from Thursday night through the weekend, especially where heavy rain could collect quickly.
WMTV15 News app
WMTV is pointing readers to the WMTV15 News app and the WMTV15 First Alert weather app for updates as the storm threat evolves. The open question is where the strongest cells and the heaviest downpours will line up inside South Central Wisconsin.
