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Extreme Cold Watch, Wisconsin

Severe

Wind chills as low as 40 below zero. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 40 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

Ended Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Replaced by the Extreme Cold Warning on Wednesday, January 21, 1:25 in the afternoon.

Issued
Expires
Updated

Places in this watch

How much

Wind chill
As low as 40 below zero

Map

Map of Wisconsin with this watch The Extreme Cold Watch covers Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha. I-43I-94I-894US 45US 51MilwaukeeMadisonKenoshaRacineWaukeshaILLINOISIOWAWISCONSINLake Michigan20 mi I-94US 45US 51MilwaukeeMadisonKenoshaRacineILLINOISIOWAWISCONSINLake Michigan25 mi I-94US 45US 51MilwaukeeMadisonKenoshaILLINOISIOWAWISCONSIN50 mi I-94US 45MilwaukeeMadisonKenoshaILLINOISWISCONSIN50 mi
  • This watch
  • Interstates
  • US highways
Alert area: National Weather Service. Borders and highways: U.S. Census Bureau. Lakes, rivers and other countries: Natural Earth. Open this area in OpenStreetMap

Details from the National Weather Service

What
Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 40 below possible.
Where
Portions of east central, south central, and southeast Wisconsin.
When
From late Thursday night through Saturday morning.
Impacts
The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 40 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

Updates

  1. Reissued with no change to the times or amounts. January 21, 2026
  2. Reissued with no change to the times or amounts. January 21, 2026
  3. Reissued with no change to the times or amounts. January 20, 2026
  4. Extreme Cold Watch issued for Friday overnight through Saturday afternoon. January 20, 2026