Warm Side of Wisconsin

In the last blog we talked about the extreme cold that is often felt across Wisconsin. In this blog, let's talk heat.

It can get very hot and muggy at times across the Badger State, especially over the southern counties.

90 degree temperatures are experienced statewide during the warm season, with an average of 2 to 4 days topping 90 in the northern counties to just over a dozen days each year along the Illinois border.

Temperatures topping 100 degrees aren't as common as 90s, but they can happen and sometimes in a big way.

The highest temperature ever observed in Wisconsin was 114 degrees back on July 13, 1936 in Wisconsin Dells (approx. 900 feet) -- that is just a little northwest of Madison in the south-central part of the state.

Temperatures obviously play a huge role in the agricultural industry of Wisconsin.

Although known for dairy, Wisconsin also is a top producer for corn. Cranberries, snap peas, potatoes, oats, and carrots are other crops grown there.

The growing season ranges from about 80 days in the northeast and north-central lowlands to just under 200 days in the Milwaukee area.

The season lasts about 140 to 150 days in the southwest portion of the state and along the east-central coastline of Lake Michigan.

The last freeze of the cold season ranges from early May along Lake Michigan and the southern counties to early June in the north.

The first freeze of the cold season comes as early as late August and the first days of September in the north and the lowlands to as late as mid-October in the south.

Sometimes the northern and central Wisconsin lowlands can even see a night or two with temperatures below freezing in July!