First Alert for gusty winds on Thursday, upcoming storms next week

North Central Wisconsin wakes to thicker clouds and lingering gusts Thursday, with winds peaking near 25–30 mph, strongest from morning into midday. A passing cold front keeps highs cooler — upper 40s north, low to mid-50s south — as the system that brought Wednesday’s rain exits. A few light sprinkles may brush the area early Friday, with better odds south near Madison and Milwaukee, before skies turn mainly sunny into Saturday. Rain returns late Saturday into Sunday, a warmup follows, and Monday brings the best chance for strong to severe storms before a cooling front.