Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Brookfield, WI

UPDATE
Issued 646 AM CDT Thu May 21 2026

A Beach Hazard Statement for a High Swim Risk continues into the early afternoon today for Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha Counties.
Northeast winds will ease a bit this afternoon, allowing for moderate to low swim risk conditions through the afternoon, but easterly winds are expected to pick up again tonight and drive further high waves onshore.

Another Beach Hazard Statement will likely be needed tonight and may continue into Saturday as gusty east winds will continue through that time.

CMiller

SHORT TERM
Issued 1130 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

Tonight through Thursday Night:

Mid and high level clouds will persist overnight, with mostly cloudy skies expected Thursday as an area of warm air advection aloft moves through. Despite the forcing from the warm air advection, dry weather is expected tomorrow due to very dry conditions in the lowest 8-10 kft. Not out of the question for a few sprinkles, but most locations will likely remain dry. The clouds will assist in keeping temps below normal Thursday, particularly near Lake Michigan under onshore winds. Lingering clouds and easterly winds are expected Thursday night, with temps a couple degrees milder than tonight.

A high swim risk continues into early Thursday afternoon for Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties. Life threatening waves and currents are expected.

DDV

LONG TERM
Issued 1130 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

Friday through Wednesday:

Surface low pressure is expected to approach from the southwest Friday, then pass by to the southeast Friday night into early Saturday. This system still looks likely to bring some rain to southern Wisconsin, though there are some uncertainties. One concern is there is a decent spread among models with the track and intensity of the low, with farther south and weaker solutions suggesting lower precip chances for southern Wisconsin. Another concern is the potential for some dry air in the mid- levels, which could also limit overall rain chances. In general though, there remains enough agreement among models to keep 40-70% chances for rain Friday evening/night, with precip winding down early Saturday.

The upcoming holiday weekend looks largely dry, though models do hint at a couple weak shortwaves rolling through at some point. With milder temps and higher dewpoints pushing into the area Sat-Mon, not out of the question to see a few showers and storms if the forcing with the waves is strong enough.

Warm temps and higher dewpoints will persist into mid-week, with some instability as well suggesting the potential for more shower/storm chances if a wave or two pushes through the area.

DDV

AVIATION
Issued 650 CDT Thu May 21 2026

Expect VFR conditions today amid moderate northeast to east winds. After some sun this morning, expect high clouds to cause BKN to OVC conditions through the day.

CMiller

MARINE
Issued 1130 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026

High pressure of 30.4 inches centered over Lake Superior this evening will will gradually shift eastward through the end of the week. Persistent east to northeast winds of 10 to 20 knots are expected through Friday, with winds becoming northerly on Saturday as low pressure of 29.8 inches lifts northeast into southern Michigan. Winds could increase a bit Friday night into Saturday, depending on the exact track and strength of the low, though winds are likely to stay below gale force. Southerly winds are then expected to develop early next week.

Though waves may briefly subside during the day Thursday, Small Craft Advisory conditions will persist much of the time through Friday night from North Point Light southward. Advisory conditions will likely gradually expand northward Thursday night into Friday. Changes to the ongoing advisory will likely be eventually needed as confidence increases in advisory conditions for later in the week.

DDV

MKX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
WI
Beach Hazards Statement
WIZ066-WIZ071-WIZ072 until 1 PM Thursday.

LM
Small Craft Advisory
LMZ644...10 PM Thursday to 10 PM Friday.

Small Craft Advisory...LMZ645-LMZ646 until 10 PM Friday.