Severe Storms Cause Widespread Power Outages in Southeast Wisconsin
- Severe storms and heavy rainfall swept across Wisconsin on Thursday, Sept.
- The severe weather system struck the state early Thursday, with over 20,000 We Energies customers losing power shortly after 9:30 a.m., according to outage maps cited by Wisconsin...
- Alongside the damaging winds and electrical outages, heavy downpours prompted a flash flood warning for Milwaukee, Washington, Ozaukee, and Waukesha counties that remained in effect until 12:15 p.m.
Severe storms and heavy rainfall swept across Wisconsin on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, knocking out power to tens of thousands of utility customers and triggering flash flood warnings in the southeastern region of the state, according to reports from Wisconsin Public Radio. At one point during the morning hours, power outages peaked as 25,000 We Energies customers sat in the dark across southeast Wisconsin. By early afternoon, the utility reported that nearly 12,500 customers remained without electricity as crews worked to clear storm debris and restore lines.
Severe Weather and Power Outages in Southeast Wisconsin
The severe weather system struck the state early Thursday, with over 20,000 We Energies customers losing power shortly after 9:30 a.m., according to outage maps cited by Wisconsin Public Radio. Milwaukee County bore the brunt of the initial surge, accounting for more than 15,000 of the affected accounts. Forecasters at the National Weather Service Milwaukee-Sullivan office warned that storms moving across the region would remain capable of producing severe weather intermittently through the morning. Damaging winds posed the primary threat to utility poles and tree limbs throughout the impacted counties.
Flash Flooding and Regional Impact
Alongside the damaging winds and electrical outages, heavy downpours prompted a flash flood warning for Milwaukee, Washington, Ozaukee, and Waukesha counties that remained in effect until 12:15 p.m. Thursday. The disruptive storms arrived on the heels of an extended stretch of humid weather across Wisconsin. High temperatures earlier in the week forced Milwaukee Public Schools to cancel classes on Wednesday to protect students and staff from the excessive heat.