County Offices Close in Extreme Cold

Thursday, January 22, 2026, County Executive Paul Farrow issued a State of Emergency Declaration due to extreme cold forecasted for Friday, January 23. 
The declaration remains in effect through 8:00 p.m. Friday. The closure will impact county facilities including the Waukesha County Courthouse, Administration Center and Health & Human Services. The public will not be able to access offices in person during this closure.

“We don’t take these decisions lightly, but with temperatures expected to hit 40 below zero, out of an abundance of caution and safety for our staff, we feel it would be best to keep our non-essential employees at home,” County Executive Paul Farrow said.

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme cold warning for all of Wisconsin and in southeastern Wisconsin, the extreme cold warning will be in effect from midnight Thursday until 1 p.m. Friday.

Essential staff, such as Department of Public Works crews, Sheriff’s Deputies and 911 dispatchers will all report for their regularly scheduled shifts.
Members of the public can access county services online during the closure by visiting waukeshacounty.gov.