Record setting heat wave bakes MN, WI - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) - The heat wave baking Minnesota and Wisconsin has led to record-breaking temperatures in the area and across both states.

La Crosse set a new record on Wednesday with a high of 103 degrees.

Temperatures hit 101 in Minneapolis on Wednesday, breaking the old record of 100 set in 1949. Downriver in Lake City, the temperature reached 101 degrees with a heat index of 115, one of the highest in the area.  Winona recorded a high Wednesday of 100.  And St. Cloud got up to 97, one degree higher than the record set in 1988.

In Wisconsin, temperatures reached 102 in Madison and Milwaukee, breaking previous records of 98 degrees in both cities. Temperatures topped 100 in a swath covering West Bend, Watertown, Janesville, Racine and Kenosha.  Prairie du Chien also saw a 100 degree reading.

Along with nighttime lows in the 80's , a severe-thunderstorm watch was in effect across northeastern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

The heat caused ongoing problems on Wisconsin's roadways. Roads had buckled in four counties Tuesday, and recurred Wednesday in Dane and Columbia counties.

The heat wave is expected to last into the weekend when temperatures are forecast to drop back down into the 80's for the high.