Heat — Kenosha, Wisconsin

2001-08-06 to 2001-08-09 · Kenosha, Wisconsin

Wider weather episode

This excessive heat episode was the third, and longest, of the 2001 summer in south-central and southeast Wisconsin. Daytime heat indices reached 105 to 110, and stayed above 80 at night. Maximum air temperatures were in the lower to mid 90s, while dewpoints were in the mid 70s. Milwaukee Mitchell Field (Milwaukee Co.) had maximum air temperatures of 92, 94, 95, and 95, for the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th of August, while Madison had 90, 93, 90, and 91, respectively. The 95's in Milwaukee were the highest readings for the summer of 2001. On the 9th, the city of Waukesha (Waukesha Co.) had 97, while Kenosha (Kenosha Co.) came in with 96. Two fatalities were reported in Milwaukee County - a male, age 67, and a female, age 75. Both were found indoors. The Kenosha County medical examiner reported two heat-related fatalities - a male, age 56 (indoors), and a female, age 8 (outdoors), who also suffered from asthma. Newspaper accounts indicated that dozens of people were treated at hospitals across south-central and southeast Wisconsin for heat-related illnesses (not true "injuries"). For example, a golfer (male, age 46) in Kenosha County, who collapsed and was taken to a hospital in critical condition, ultimately survived. Their body temperature had reached 108 degrees! Attendance was sharply down at various county fairs, at the State Fair in West Allis (Milwaukee Co.), at beaches along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and at local municipal pools. In addition, several senior citizen events were cancelled due to the heat. Most commercial outlets reported that their supply of air conditioners were sold out. Milwaukee area hospitals reported about a dozen cases of severe asthma on average each day during this heat wave, about twice the normal number per day during summer. Ozone levels reached dangerous values, prompting the state DNR to issue Ozone Action Days for southeastern Wisconsin. Electrical companies reported near-record or record daily electrical usage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5266609. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.