Wisconsin
Bitter cold temperatures are in effect in Wisconsin. Here’s what you can do to stay safe
Time lapse of Friday’s snowstorm in downtown Milwaukee
Check out a time lapse Friday’s snowstorm in downtown Milwaukee.
After the weekend snowstorms, the National Weather Service is reporting that bitter cold temperatures and very cold wind chills are in effect in Milwaukee until Wednesday, Jan. 17.
Temperatures could drop below zero and winds are expected to be 10 to 30 mph.
The Milwaukee Health Department warns that cold temperatures can quickly become dangerous.
Here’s some tips on what you can do to to stay safe during the bitter cold weather.
How to stay safe in bitter cold when at home
- Check furnaces annually before winter to ensure they are working efficiently and safely.
- Pay attention to local news and weather reports and share information with others.
- Have all cellular phones charged and ready for use.
- Create a cold-weather preparedness kit for your family that includes candles and matches, extra blankets or sleeping bags, extra batteries for flashlights and radios, extra clothing, high-calorie non-perishable food items, extra food and water.
- Assemble first aid kits and any medications you may require
- Have tool kits available and ready for use.
How to stay safe if you go outdoors in bitter cold
- Wear appropriate outdoor clothing and ensure that exposed skin is covered, including your fingers, nose, and ears.
- Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
- Be aware of the symptoms of both frostbite and hypothermia. Both conditions require immediate medical attention.
- Do not touch metal surfaces with uncovered hands, flesh can freeze instantly to a surface.
- If you have pets, bring them inside and ensure trips outside are brief.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages as alcohol causes the body to lose its heat more rapidly despite individuals thinking they may feel warmer after drinking alcoholic beverages.
How to stay safe while traveling in the cold
- Make a car survival kit that includes blankets or sleeping bags, extra clothing, high-energy foods and water.
- Ensure your vehicle’s fuel tank is at least half-full and that the battery is charged.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services also advises the community members to check on isolated older adults and people with disabilities or hearing loss during extreme cold weather as they can be unaware of rapidly changing weather conditions and may need help when cold temperatures become unsafe.
WDHS says Wisconsin averages about 50 cold-related deaths each year.
People who are in need of public space to stay warm during the day or need overnight shelter locations can visit 211’s list of locations in the Greater Milwaukee Area or dial 211.
If you or someone you know is experiencing hypothermia or frostbite symptoms, the Milwaukee Health Department advises you contact a medical provider. If a health issue is an emergency, dial 911.
More bitter cold weather safety tips are available at milwaukee.gov/coldweathersafety.
Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde reflects on early March Madness exit
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde said the Badgers ‘thought we could do so many things’ in the NCAA Tournament before it ended abrupty with an upset loss.
Wisconsin men’s basketball has added a sharpshooting wing via the transfer portal.
Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer has signed with the Badgers, the team announced April 18. The 6-foot-7 wing will join UW with one year of eligibility remaining.
Elmer averaged a career-high 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in 2025-26. His production helped the RedHawks go 32-2 and earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” UW coach Greg Gard said in a release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. … A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process, our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.”
Elmer is Wisconsin’s third transfer portal addition since the end of the 2025-26 season, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and former Hofstra forward Victory Onuetu. UW also added Australian guard Owen Foxwell.
The additions of Autry, Onuetu and now Elmer leave Gard’s staff with three more roster spots to fill ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Badgers are looking to replace much of their production from a 2025-26 team that went 24-11. Nolan Winter is expected to be the team’s only returning starter after John Blackwell and Aleksas Bieliauskas entered the transfer portal and Nick Boyd and Andrew Rohde exhausted their eligibility.
MILWAUKEE – Friday’s severe storms have passed. And with that, the threat of any severe weather has also passed for the immediate future as no storms or rain are expected for several days.
However, plenty of damage remains across southeastern Wisconsin as of Saturday morning, in addition to the ongoing flooding threat.
Several area rivers are at flood stage, and there are multiple river flood warnings in effect.
FOX6 Weekend WakeUp on Saturday begins at 6 a.m.
On the scene in the morning
What we know:
Farmstead damage in Franklin
FOX6’s Hayley Spitler is in Franklin on Saturday morning, April 18, getting a daylight look at the damage from last night’s storms.
Storm damage in Caledonia
Friday’s storms left quite the mark across southern and southeastern Wisconsin, including at L and L Farms and Greenhouse in Caledonia.
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
FOX6 Weather Experts in social media
The Source: Information in this post was compiled by the FOX6 Weather Experts.
How Aleksas Bieliauskas has grown in first season with Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard has high praise for Aleksas Bieliauskas about a month into the Lithuania native’s freshman season.
MADISON – One of Wisconsin men’s basketball’s departing transfers is headed to an SEC program with some connections to the Badgers.
Ex-UW forward Aleksas Bieliauskas has committed to South Carolina, he announced on April 17.
Bieliauskas left the Badgers after appearing in all 35 games as a freshman and making 28 starts. He averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 points in 20.2 minutes, and highlights of his freshman year included his five 3-pointers in UW’s upset over eventual national champion Michigan.
He’ll join a program with plenty of Wisconsin ties. South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris was an assistant coach at Wisconsin from 2010-17 on Bo Ryan and Greg Gard’s staffs. South Carolina assistant coach Tanner Bronson and director of video services Roman DiPasquale also are UW alumni.
Bieliauskas is the second of UW’s four departing transfers to commit to a new school. Reserve forward Jack Robison committed to North Dakota State on April 15. Starting guard John Blackwell and reserve forward Riccardo Greppi have not announced their next schools yet.
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