MediterraneanGrocery Wholesalers in Milwaukee, WI

Cold is an understatement in Wisconsin this week as below zero temperatures hit, and remain in, the Milwaukee area for the first time this winter.

Is this arctic blast sticking around? Here's what you need to know.

Why is it this cold in Milwaukee and Wisconsin right now?

The winter storms last week pulled in winds from the north and northwest, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Taylor Patterson.

"Basically, we got a whole bunch of cold air funneling down from Canada," Patterson said.

What is the coldest it's been in the Milwaukee area so far?

The coldest air temperature has been negative 5 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Milwaukee hit that temperature briefly on Monday and has been hanging around that temperature Tuesday morning. With the wind chill, the coldest recorded temperature so far has been -24. That was recorded Tuesday morning.

How long will below zero temperatures stay in Wisconsin?

"If you look on the horizon to this weekend, Sunday and Monday look to be where we’ll turn a corner," Patterson said. "We’re gonna get a swing in the other direction and see abnormally warm temperatures for this time of year. We’ll see highs in the mid-30s. We’re normally around 20 degrees this time of year, but we’ll be looking at getting above freezing for the end of this coming week and into next."

What will bring these warmer temperatures in is another wind shift. Winds will come from the Gulf of Mexico and the south.

Could it get this cold again this winter?

"As we look ahead into February and March, there is always the potential we could have another cold snap as cold as this one, but it's hard to say," Patterson said. "Winter in Wisconsin, it's not unusual to have another cold spell."

More:NOAA's 2023-2024 winter forecast is here. This is what Wisconsinites should expect.

What were the snow totals for last week in Milwaukee?

The Milwaukee area saw mixed snow depths between shoreline and inland communities, according to Patterson. Those along Lake Michigan saw an estimated one to four inches total last week. For the communities on the west side of the county, they saw accumulation totals of around 14 to 18 inches.

Here are some other totals from around Wisconsin:

Drew Dawson can be reached at [email protected] or 262-289-1324.

Biden campaign opened 44 reelection offices across Wisconsin on Tuesday, including Milwaukee

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MILWAUKEE —

President Joe Biden made his second visit to Milwaukee in three months Wednesday.

He arrived in town about about 2:30 p.m. with U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, who was on Air Force One with him.

The president announced $3.3 billion in infrastructure projects for local communities. That included $36 million to Milwaukee for the 6th Street Corridor.

$36 million 6th Street makeover planned for Milwaukee

He made the announcement at the Hillside Boys and Girls Club at about 3:30 p.m.

"We're rebuilding the roads, we're filling in the cracks in the sidewalk, we're creating spaces to live and work and play safely, and to breathe clean air, and to shop at a nearby grocery stocked with fresh and healthy food," he said.

"You've lived and felt decisions made decades ago," Biden said. "Today, today, we're making decisions to transform your lives for decades to come."

The money comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law that Biden signed in the first year of his presidency.

Several other people spoke before him, including Milwaukee County Executive Crowley, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore and Gov. Tony Evers.

Biden and former President Donald Trump both clinched their party nominations overnight, and Biden wasted no time going after Trump.

"Just this week, Donald Trump said cuts to Social Security and Medicare are on the table. When asked if he changed his position, he said, quote, 'There's a lot we can do in terms of cutting, tremendous amount of things we can do,' end of quote. I want to assure you I will never allow it to happen," Biden said.

Biden's visit comes a day after the Biden campaign opened 44 re-election offices in Wisconsin, including Milwaukee.

The campaign headquarters is located inside the old Blatz brewery, which long ago stopped producing beer and now hosts a series of offices.

Biden stopped there at about 4:10 p.m. after speaking at the Boys and Girls Club.

He said volunteers and staff in places like Milwaukee would help ensure his victory over Trump.

WISN 12 News

"This is how we are going to win again," he said. "A lot of you helped me in 2020, and we made sure he was a loser and is a loser, and we’re going to make sure that happens again, right?"

Wednesday night, he will attend a private campaign event meeting with donors and supporters.

He will head to another battleground state, Michigan, on Thursday. He is scheduled to leave Milwaukee at 11:20 a.m. for Saginaw.

There is no official word on where he will stay, but News Chopper 12 did capture an exclusive video of workers putting up security gates outside the Pfister Hotel.

The downtown Milwaukee hotel is known for hosting presidents.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

President Joe Biden announces visits to Wisconsin and Michigan

With temperatures dropping from the upper 60s to well below freezing overnight, Milwaukee is expected to close out February by experiencing all four seasons in a 24-hour period.

Tuesday afternoon, parts of Milwaukee County could see a daytime high as warm as 73 degrees, while portions of the city closer to the lakefront will likely see highs in the mid-to-upper 60s, said local National Weather Service meteorologist Benjamin Sheppard. Temperatures are expected to peak around 3 to 5 p.m.

Overnight, a strong cold front is expected to come in, plummeting temperatures into the teens. Sheppard said Milwaukee should see temps of about 17 to 19 degrees around 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Along with a potential 50-degree temperature swing, much of southern Wisconsin could see Tuesday evening thunderstorms, which could evolve into snow by early Wednesday morning and impact the morning commute.

Here's what to know.

How much will temperatures drop from Tuesday to Wednesday in Milwaukee?

Temperatures in Milwaukee could easily plummet as much as 50 degrees between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning. However, this drop could feel even more extreme due to high winds on Wednesday.

Gusts of 30-to-35 mph are expected Wednesday morning through the early afternoon, Sheppard said. This could produce windchills in the mid-to-low single digits in the morning.

Meanwhile, Tuesday afternoon will most likely set a high temperature record. Milwaukee's current record for Feb. 27 is 65 degrees, set in 1976. Records come from observations at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, where temperatures are forecasted to peak at 68 degrees Tuesday.

"We're expecting the winds to be out of the southwest, which would allow us to reach such a warm high," Sheppard explained. "The only potential limiting factor would be if we had any, even a slight, southeasterly wind off the lake. That would work against us because the lake is very cold right now. But, currently, we're expecting the winds to be southwest."

Update: According to a post on X by NWS Milwaukee, Wisconsin set an all-time record high for February of 75 degrees Tuesday afternoon in Kenosha. The state's previous February record high of 73 degrees occurred in 2017.

Why is Milwaukee experiencing such a big temperature swing between Tuesday and Wednesday?

Local NWS meteorologist Andrew Quigley told the Journal Sentinel Monday that an upper disturbance from the Rocky Mountains moved toward southeastern Wisconsin, bringing breezy, southerly winds on Monday and Tuesday. This will bring a warm, mild air mass from the south-central plains to Wisconsin, he said.

"With the combination of daytime heating and the warm front coming through, we will have that extreme daytime high," Sheppard said.

Then, around midnight Wednesday, a strong arctic cold front from Canada will push through, bringing a quick drop in temps, even colder windchills, windy conditions and a chance of light snow through Wednesday morning.

A drop in temps this extreme is certainly uncommon, Sheppard said, and this is a "stronger than normal" cold front.

Will there be thunderstorms in Milwaukee this week? How about snow?

Around or after 6 p.m. Tuesday, southeastern Wisconsin will see increased chances of rain and thunderstorms due to the unseasonably warm temperatures and higher dewpoints, NWS said. There is a chance of large hail and damaging wind gusts along with the storms, especially south of Interstate 94 and east of Interstate 39.

In Milwaukee, rain is expected to transition to a wintery mix around 3 a.m. Wednesday, Sheppard said. This will likely be followed by light snow showers. However, due to warm surface temperatures from the previous day, there won't be much snow accumulation.

Slick roads could impact Milwaukee's Wednesday morning commute

"Light precipitation falling after the cold front could hit the roads and melt, and then the cold air temperatures will cause it to freeze," Sheppard said. "That could potentially lead to slick roads."

NWS warns that "minor travel impacts" will be especially likely for "wet, untreated, and/or elevated surfaces."

High temps will warm to the mid-to-upper 20s by the end of the day Wednesday. Highs in the low 40s are expected by Thursday before they climb to the upper 40s and 50s Friday and Saturday.

"In the past, when we've had events like this and the roads get treated, usually temperatures in the upper 20s are when those road treatments do well," Sheppard explained. "So, I would not be concerned about treated roads later in the day Wednesday. But, untreated sidewalks ... could remain slippery later in the day."

Why is it so warm this winter?

The primary culprit behind Wisconsin's unseasonably warm winter is a weather phenomenon known as El Nin?o.

An El Nin?o event is caused when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean warm to above average for several months. During an El Nin?o, the polar jet stream is shifted northward, which limits cold air intrusions from the north, NWS explains.

In general, El Nin?o brings above-average temperatures to the northern United States, which often result in below-average snowfall in moderate-to-strong El Nin?o years.

Last year, the Milwaukee area NWS said this winter's El Nin?o was on track to be one of the strongest on record.

More:It's been Milwaukee's warmest winter ever. Does that mean we're in for a hot spring and summer?

More:Here's what Farmers' Almanac is predicting for upcoming spring weather in Wisconsin

Journal Sentinel reporter Drew Dawson contributed to this report.

Hope Karnopp

In-person absentee voting — also known as early voting — starts Tuesday in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin for the April 2 election.

Early voting is a chance to cast your ballot ahead of time if you can't make it to the polls on Election Day, or if you just want to get it done early.

Communities can start offering in-person absentee voting Tuesday — two weeks before Election Day — and can run as late as March 31.

Early voting locations, dates and times vary based on the city you live in, and some communities may not offer it. You can visit your local clerk's website for the most up-to-date information.

More:Wisconsin's 2024 presidential primary election: date, who's on the ballot, voting deadlines

Here's what to know about voting early in Milwaukee and other parts of Wisconsin, what to bring if you're voting early, and what you'll see on your ballot:

Where do I vote early in Milwaukee?

The City of Milwaukee is offering early voting between Tuesday, March 19 and Saturday, March 30. Here's a full list and map of those locations.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, these sites will be open:

From noon to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, these sites will be open:

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, between March 25 and March 29, this site will be open:

From noon to 6 p.m. weekdays between March 19 and March 28 (ends Thursday), this site will be open:

Where do I vote early in Wisconsin?

That varies based on where you live. The Wisconsin Elections Commission has a website where you can find local early voting options. You can enter your address here to find early voting dates and hours.

If myvote.wi.gov doesn't provide that information, you should be able to find it on your local clerk's website. You can also find contact information for your local clerk's office by entering your address here.

Early voting can run through March 31 in Wisconsin, but check with your local clerk for exact dates. If you haven't voted by that point, you can head to the polls April 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

What should I bring to vote early in Wisconsin?

The same rules apply for voting early as voting at the polls on Election Day. Bring a form of photo identification that has your name on it, like a driver's license or state ID card. A full list of accepted photos IDs is available here.

You can register to vote at an early voting site. You'll also need to re-register to vote if you've moved or changed addresses since the last time you voted.

In that case, bring a document to show proof of residence. A driver's license or state ID card also works if it shows your current address, or you can bring another accepted document listed here.

What's on my April 2 ballot in Wisconsin?

The April 2 election is the presidential primary in Wisconsin, the election where voters cast their preferences for president. Voters make final choices for president in the Nov. 5 general election.

If you're a Milwaukee voter, other races on your ballot include city attorney, mayor and comptroller, plus 15 contested Common Council seats.

More:What to know about Milwaukee city offices on the April 2 election ballot

Many communities will also have races for school boards, as well as school district referendums to improve facilities or fund operational costs.

And there are two statewide referendum questions on the April 2 ballot, which stem from debates about private grants that helped clerks run elections during the pandemic.

More:Wisconsin's April 2 referendum questions and the 'Zuckerbucks' debate, explained

You can check what races are your ballot ahead of time by using the "What's on my Ballot" tool at myvote.wi.gov.

Keep those shovels and snowblowers handy.

Southeastern Wisconsin has been dusted with two rounds of snow this week; the first as part of the winter storm that rolled through Wisconsin on Tuesday. The second arrived overnight Thursday, and we're not done just yet. Another system is expected to arrive in the area on Friday and bring with it both snow and below zero temperatures.

Here's what you need to know.

How much snow did Milwaukee get Thursday morning?

The Milwaukee area saw 1 to 3 inches of snow Thursday morning, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Ben Miller. There were also reports of 3-1/2 inches in Ozaukee, Washington and northern Waukesha counties.

Are we finally done with snow for the week?

No. The National Weather Service on Thursday afternoon issued a winter storm warning for Friday as another system is expected to hit the area starting early Friday morning and last throughout the day. The winter storm warning is in effect until 12 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13.

More:NOAA's 2023-2024 winter forecast is here. This is what Wisconsinites should expect.

How much snow is the Friday storm expected to bring?

"It's gonna be another tricky storm," Miller said. "Not similar to the last one, but given the warm Lake Michigan temperatures and the warm December we had, it could impact snow totals again near the lakeshore."

For those near the lake that saw little to no accumulation during Tuesday's storm, there could, again be lower snow totals than farther inland. Miller said that snow is expected to start after midnight and go through the morning commute. With temperatures around freezing during the day, the lakeshore communities, especially to the south, could see a wintry mix or even rain during the day.

Along the lakeshore though should still see 3 to 6 inches on the ground.

"The lake temperature is still in the low 40 degrees, which is remarkable for this late in the season," Miller said. "We should be having ice cover the shorelines at this point."

More:How does Lake Michigan affect the weather in Milwaukee?

For those farther away from the lake, even by just a few miles, temperatures also around freezing could create wintry-mix conditions during the day, but they should see snow even into the afternoon. He said any wintry mix will change back to snow quickly. The inland communities are forecasted to get 5 to 10 inches with some pockets getting 10 to 12, Miller said.

"With the next system, we’re gonna have as much snow as last time and a lot of the populated areas of the Milwaukee metro area is probably gonna be quite a bit more snow," he added." "For the most part, though not during the middle of the day, it’s going to be a drier, lighter, fluffier snow."

The snow Friday will bring an arctic blast and below zero temperatures

The snow will bring with it the first arctic blast and below zero temperatures of the season. That weather comes into the area Friday night and into Saturday. Temperatures will slowly drop on Saturday and into Sunday when they fall below zero, Miller said.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday will see highs in the single digits and lows below zero. That could be the case Wednesday and Thursday. Regardless, temperatures are expected to be in the high teens or lower single digits or below zero the rest of the week.

"It's going to come in and stick around for a while," Miller said. "The longer we go into the season with above-normal temperatures, the bigger the shock it's going to feel like when it finally decides to dip."

More:Here's what you can do to prepare for the winter storm coming to Wisconsin

Drew Dawson can be reached at [email protected] or 262-289-1324.