Heat in Wisconsin, July 21 to 22, 2001

The first, significant round of excessive heat for the summer of 2001 affected parts of south-central and southeast Wisconsin. Medical examiner reports indicated that two people died from heat exposure in Milwaukee County - a female (52), and a male (34). Their deaths occurred at the end of this heat event, or a couple days later. At least eighty (80) people who attended the Country Thunder music festival in western Kenosha County were were medically treated on-site for the affects of heat exhaustion. Across the remainder of southeast Wisconsin, dozens of other people were treated or heat exhaustion at hospitals. Overnight heat index values were in the 80 to 90 range, and reached 105 to 110 for several hours during the afternoon hours on the 21st and 22nd. Maximum air temperatures were in the lower 90s while surface dewpoints were in the lower to mid 70s. Overnight minimum air temperatures were in the lower to mid 70s. Although the core period of the excessive heat was on the 21st and 22nd, very warm and muggy conditions actually started on the 20th and persisted through the 23rd. Milwaukee's maximum and minimum air temperatures at Mitchell Field for this period were: 87/71, 90/76, 90/71, 91/74. While excessive heat conditions were observed well inland, those locations near the Lake Michigan shoreline were slightly cooler. The long duration of this heat wave was a contributing factor toward the 2 deaths.