Record heat buckles pavement
Milwaukee’s high of 95 Sunday sets mark in May
It’s hot out there — really hot. Sunday’s high of 95 in Milwaukee broke the record for the hottest temperature ever in May. The mercury reached 95 degrees around 1 p.m.at Mitchell International Airport, according to the National Weather Service. The previous record was 94 degrees, set in 1911.
Highs reached upward of 90 degrees across the state. In La Crosse, a high of 97 was recorded. It was up to 96 in Madison and 92 in Rhinelander.
Just how hot was it? Well, buckled pavement was reported on multiple highways in the state. Traffic was being directed to shoulders on:
❚ US 12 eastbound lanes near Baraboo at State Highway 33.
❚ US 45 northbound lanes near Oshkosh at County Highway T.
❚ State Highway 57 southbound lanes near Fredonia.
❚ US 151 southbound lanes near Fond du Lac at I-41
Lanes reopened on southbound I-41 after a closure Saturday so crews could put down a temporary patch for broken concrete.
The state Department of Transportation advises drivers to be alert for potential pavement problems and traffic slowdowns.
According to the DOT, pavement buckling is common when the temperatures quickly rise from cool to very hot. The rapid change causes the pavement to expand and push against each other. Enough pressure will cause the pavement to buckle.
The National Weather Service forecast shows high temperatures staying in the 90s through Monday. The high is forecast to be 80 Tuesday in Milwaukee.
The weather service advises limiting outdoor activities and to work outdoors either early or very late in the day. If you venture outside, the weather service advises drinking plenty of water, wearing light clothing and protecting skin with sunscreen.