Warm October takes a break as frost and freeze temperatures arrive

October has been very warm through the first three weeks of the month. Despite average highs dropping into the upper 50s this week, we've only had a few days this month with highs in the 50s. We will continue to add to that number the rest of this week as temperatures finally cool down. Through the first three weeks of the month the average temperature has been a mild 60.9 degrees which is a full six degrees above average and goes down as the 7th warmest start to October on record. 

Wednesday's date of the 22nd is also the 30-year average in Milwaukee for the first freeze with the low temperature getting down to 32 or colder. But we have yet to get a frost in Milwaukee and the airport is the only spot in southeast Wisconsin not to drop into the 30s yet!

That will likely change over the next few mornings as lows drop into the 30s Thursday and Friday mornings and maybe even Saturday morning. At least a patchy frost is expected on Thursday but that all depends on how fast the clouds from Wednesday can clear. If the clouds clear quickly then lows will be even colder and a widespread frost is expected. Friday morning is our better chance right now for a widespread frost and even a potential freeze inland. Then more patchy frost is expected Saturday morning. 

With the lows dropping into the 30s for Thursday morning, a Frost Advisory has been issued for southwest Wisconsin from 2-9 AM on Thursday. None of our local counties are currently included in the advisory but if the clouds clear fast and the temps drop quickly Wednesday night then at least some of our western counties could be added to the advisory.

Right now a frost advisory and even freeze warning looks likely for Friday morning. Download the CBS 58 Weather app to get alerts if those headlines are issued and to track morning lows with the hour-by-hour forecast.