When will we see below-freezing temperatures in Milwaukee? First frost, snow forecasts
As Milwaukee continues to experience unseasonably warm weather, it’s unlikely the city will see a snowy Thanksgiving.
In fact, parts of Wisconsin closed out October by logging record-warm temperatures. On Oct. 29, both Milwaukee and Madison saw temperatures tick above 80 degrees, tying high-temperature records set in 1937, according to the National Weather Service.
On average, Milwaukee has seen its first snowfall by early November, according to historical NWS data. But with temperatures hovering in the high 50s though the end of this week, chances of snow anytime before the end of the month are slim.
Here’s when we might see the first frost and first snow in Milwaukee.
A pedestrian makes their way through the cold rain and snow along North Milwaukee Street in Milwaukee on Thursday, April 4, 2024. Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin are entering the third consecutive day of widespread rain and snowfall. Dry weather is expected over the weekend, with partly sunny skies Friday and a sunny Saturday.
When will Milwaukee see its first frost?
If you’re looking for chilly fall weather, you’ll have to wait a little longer: 50-degree temperatures are expected to hold in the Milwaukee area for several more weeks, according to local NWS meteorologist Cameron Miller.
“As we go into later this month, we’ll have better chances of getting temperatures that are more conducive to first frost,” Miller said, citing data from the NWS Climate Prediction Center. “It looks like toward Thanksgiving is when we start to dip down into having highs in the low 40s and overnight lows in the 30s more often.”
According to Accuweather’s monthly forecast, Milwaukee might see its first frost during the last week of November. Frost develops when temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, such that water vapor in the air freezes and forms thin layers of ice crystals on outside surfaces, including snow.
On Nov. 27, Accuweather forecasts that Milwaukee temperatures will drop to a low of 27 degrees and a high of 43 degrees. The freezing weather will persist throughout the week, with lows of 27 and 24 degrees on Dec. 1 and 2, respectively. However, it is not forecasted to snow on any of these days, with weather conditions remaining mostly cloudy.
On Thanksgiving Day, temperatures will be a bit warmer, with partly sunny weather and a low of 30 degrees and high of 48 degrees.
When will it snow in Milwaukee?
Accuweather doesn’t forecast the first snowfall of the season until Dec. 19 and 20 in Milwaukee — though Miller noted these long-range forecasts are often unreliable, since they use historical averages of weather conditions and cannot account for daily, shifting weather patterns.
As a general benchmark, the average first trace of snowfall in Milwaukee has been on Nov. 2, according to NWS data. The average first inch of snowfall has occurred on Dec. 2.
Fall colors cover the trees as the leaves change colors at Dave’s Falls in Amberg on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024.
Are leaves still falling in Milwaukee?
Amid Milwaukee’s longer autumn, you may also have noticed your leaves falling later than previous years. Plants generally need cooler weather to start shutting down, so higher October temperatures can delay the falling leaves, according to Climate Central.
In Milwaukee, the deadline to rake your leaves out for city collection is Friday, Nov. 15. However, in recent years, the city has led the city to extend this deadline to late November and even December as fall has shifted later.
As of Nov. 11, the city has not extended the 2024 deadline, but you can find more information about leaf collection and check for updates here.
Average first frost in Milwaukee:
Here’s when Milwaukee has historically recorded its first frost, according to NWS:
Average first frost: Oct. 22.
Earliest first frost recorded: Sept. 20, 1966
Latest first frost recorded: Nov. 24, 1931
Average first snowfall in Milwaukee:
Here’s when Milwaukee has historically recorded its first trace of snowfall and first inch of snowfall, according to NWS:
Average first snowfall: trace snow on Nov. 2, and inch on Dec. 2
Earliest first snowfall recorded: trace snow on Sept. 23, 1942, and inch on Oct. 17, 1896
Latest first snowfall recorded: Dec. 5, 1999, and 1 inch on Jan, 20, 1889
Wisconsin weather warnings
More: When could it start snowing in Milwaukee? Here’s a look at the average first snowfall in Wisconsin
Claire Reid contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Will it snow in Milwaukee on Thanksgiving? First frost forecast
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