Frostbite Possible In 10 Minutes As Wind Chills Drop To -25 Across Southern Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE, WI — Dangerous arctic cold is settling into southern Wisconsin, with wind chills plunging well below zero late Friday night and remaining bitter through the weekend.

The National Weather Service says a Cold Weather Advisory is in effect from midnight Friday night through noon Saturday for much of southern Wisconsin, with wind chills expected to range from 15 to 25 degrees below zero. Forecasters say an additional advisory is likely Saturday evening through Sunday morning as the cold intensifies.

Wind chill forecasts show the coldest conditions developing late Friday night and persisting through Saturday morning, with another round of dangerously low wind chills expected late Saturday night into early Sunday.

While daytime temperatures will remain cold, the combination of brisk northwest winds and arctic air will make it feel significantly colder, especially during overnight and early morning hours. Forecasters warn frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes during the coldest periods.

Residents are urged to limit time outdoors, dress in multiple layers, cover exposed skin, and bring pets indoors. The National Weather Service also recommends checking on elderly neighbors and taking precautions to prevent frozen pipes.

A gradual warmup is expected early next week, with wind chills easing Sunday afternoon and temperatures climbing into the 20s and 30s by Monday and Tuesday.

Here's the full NWS forecast from the Milwaukee Airport:

Today: A chance of flurries after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 25. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: A chance of flurries before 10pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around -1. Wind chill values between -5 and -15. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 6. Wind chill values between -10 and -20. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around -4. Wind chill values between -15 and -20. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 11. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 1. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 20. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. West wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42.

Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 38.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a temperature rising to near 38 by 11am, then falling to around 30 during the remainder of the day.