Wisconsin Tornado Damage
Wisconsin Tornado Tears Through Fox Valley, Causing Extensive Damage and Citywide Power Outage
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Key Points
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In Menasha, an office building in the 700 block of Fourth Street sustained major damage with multiple first- and second-floor windows blown out and debris scattered across the parking lot, with the incident occurring around 12:10 p.m.
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The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado in Winnebago County about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee, with the twister moving over Lake Winnebago toward Fond du Lac County around 12:25 p.m.
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The entire city of Menasha, home to about 18,000 residents, was believed to be without power due to a downed transmission line.
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Damage was also reported in downtown Neenah and Menasha as the severe weather moved through the Fox Valley, with ongoing assessments of injuries and destruction.
A tornado tore through the Fox Valley region of eastern Wisconsin on Tuesday, causing extensive damage to homes and businesses and knocking out power to thousands of residents, according to WTOP. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado in Winnebago County, about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee, at around 12:25 p.m., with the storm moving south over Lake Winnebago toward Fond du Lac County.
The entire city of Menasha — home to roughly 18,000 people — was believed to be without power after a transmission line went down, Big Rapids News reported. Emergency crews launched search-and-rescue operations and urged residents to stay out of affected areas as damage assessments remained ongoing.
Menasha and Appleton Bear the Worst of the Damage
In Menasha, an office building on the 700 block of Fourth Street took a direct hit around 12:10 p.m. Multiple windows on the first and second floors were blown out, and debris covered the surrounding parking lot, according to WTOP. Homes also lost roofs, cars were overturned, and downed trees blocked streets across both Menasha and Appleton.
Damage was also reported in downtown Neenah as the storm swept through the Fox Valley. Video and photos from the scene showed shattered windows, uprooted trees, and debris scattered across neighborhoods and business districts. Officials said damage assessments were still active and evolving throughout the afternoon.
Power Outages Hit Thousands Across the Region
Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson confirmed that the tornado cut power to thousands of homes across the area, Big Rapids News reported. The entire city of Menasha lost electricity after a downed transmission line knocked out service to all roughly 18,000 residents. Utility crews worked to restore power as the scope of outages continued to grow.
NBC Chicago reported that the severe weather triggered hundreds of emergency calls across eastern Wisconsin, with multiple possible tornadoes reported throughout the region. The storm system brought widespread destruction beyond just the confirmed Winnebago County tornado, stretching emergency response resources thin, according to NBC Chicago.
National Weather Service Tracks Storm Toward Fond du Lac
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado formed in Winnebago County and moved south over Lake Winnebago, tracking toward Fond du Lac County, according to Winnipeg Free Press. The storm was confirmed at approximately 12:25 p.m. Meteorologists continued to monitor the system as it pushed further south through the region.
The Brandon Sun noted that the storm downed trees and caused significant power outages across the affected counties. No widespread injuries were reported at the outset, though officials stressed the situation remained active and warned that injury tallies could rise as crews cleared debris and searched damaged buildings, according to Brandon Sun.
Emergency Crews Urge Residents to Stay Clear
Local authorities deployed emergency crews to clear debris, assess structural damage, and restore essential services across Menasha, Appleton, and Neenah. Officials urged residents to avoid damaged neighborhoods to allow crews to work safely and quickly. Building inspections were underway to determine which structures were safe to enter.
Authorities said additional updates would be released as crews completed their assessments. The situation was still evolving hours after the tornado touched down, with the full scale of destruction not yet known, according to WTOP. Officials asked the public to monitor local emergency alerts for the latest information.
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