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By Steve Mollman and Anna Skinner
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A tornado that struck eastern Wisconsin on Monday left a trail of destruction across the Fox Valley, damaging homes and businesses, downing trees and power lines, and contributing to widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of customers across the Midwest. Authorities in Appleton and surrounding communities spent Monday responding to emergency calls and beginning recovery operations as officials assessed the full extent of the storm's impact.
The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that a tornado touched down in Winnebago County as severe thunderstorms moved across the region. Video captured near Appleton showed a large tornado lofting debris high into the air, while reports from Menasha indicated extensive damage to homes and other structures.
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The storm knocked out power to more than 340,000 customers from Wisconsin to Ohio, according to AccuWeather. Illinois recorded more than 280,000 outages at the peak of the event, while Wisconsin saw outages exceed 130,000 customers.
Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford said during a news briefing on Monday that the city's immediate focus was emergency response and helping residents affected by the storm before transitioning to longer-term recovery efforts. The city mobilized departments across government to respond to storm-related emergencies, clear roads and assess damage. Officials urged residents to avoid damaged areas, stay away from downed power lines and limit travel.
Wisconsin State of Emergency Declared After Tornado, Storms
On Tuesday, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency in response to the storms. Preliminary surveys indicated the tornado produced EF3-level damage in the Menasha and Appleton area, while other communities experienced destructive winds, large hail, power outages and disruptions to public water systems. Evers said the state was committed to helping affected families, businesses and communities recover and that the declaration would help ensure all available resources could be deployed quickly.
State and local emergency responders, including fire departments, law enforcement agencies, public works crews, utilities and volunteer organizations, are already assisting recovery efforts. The Wisconsin Emergency Management agency has been working with counties to assess damage and identify needed resources, while the State Emergency Operations Center was elevated to Level 3 on Monday. Officials said the emergency declaration will strengthen coordination among state agencies, local governments and utilities as cleanup and restoration efforts continue.
Dramatic dash-camera footage from Appleton captured the dangers residents faced during the storm.
One woman became trapped inside her vehicle after power poles snapped and electrical lines fell around her car. The footage showed sparks erupting from downed lines as she called 911 for assistance, telling dispatchers she was surrounded by fallen power cables.
Images and videos shared on social media showed damaged buildings, downed trees and debris scattered across affected communities.
While some online posts raised fears of serious casualties, Menasha officials told Newsweek they could not confirm any fatalities or major injuries as of Monday afternoon.
What Happened?
According to the NWS Green Bay office, the tornado was spotted near Appleton shortly after noon. The weather service said residents were facing a life-threatening situation and urged people to seek shelter immediately.
The office told Newsweek on Monday afternoon, "We are sending a storm survey team down to Appleton later this afternoon to get the details to rate the intensity and find the start/end times and locations."
The tornado warning for Appleton expired at 12:45 p.m. CDT as the storm weakened. However, severe weather continued to move through eastern Wisconsin, and a subsequent tornado warning was issued for parts of Fond du Lac and Dodge counties.
Meteorologists also reported hail as large as two inches in diameter, while severe thunderstorm warnings remained in effect for portions of the region because of damaging winds and the possibility of additional tornadoes.
Photos Show Damage in Menasha and Appleton
Social media images and videos circulated throughout the afternoon showing significant storm damage in Menasha and surrounding areas.
Menasha Police said emergency personnel, firefighters, public works crews and other agencies were responding to multiple impacted locations.
"We are aware of severe damage in broad areas," the department said in a Facebook post, urging residents to stay indoors, avoid downed power lines and stay away from damaged areas unless absolutely necessary.
The city also warned residents not to drive around road closures and to limit nonemergency travel while crews assess damage and work to restore services.
In an email to Newsweek, Menasha Police Community Liaison Officer Matthew Roe said officials could not confirm any fatalities or major injuries. He said damage assessments were ongoing and that crews were responding to numerous downed trees, downed power lines, debris-blocked roadways and reported natural gas leaks throughout the city.
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Roe said emergency responders remain focused on life safety, hazard mitigation, damage assessment and restoring access to impacted areas. He added that multiple roads remain closed or restricted because of debris and utility hazards and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
Thousands Without Power
The storm left a large number of Wisconsin residents without electricity.
Menasha Utilities said the entire city could be without power following the storm. According to outage-tracking data cited by CNN, more than 15,000 customers lost power in Winnebago and Calumet counties, while outages also affected tens of thousands of customers in neighboring Outagamie County, home to much of Appleton.
Elsewhere in the region, utility companies reported widespread outages as severe thunderstorms swept across parts of Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana, with over 340,000 customers out, according to AccuWeather.
Roe said utility providers were continuing restoration efforts and that residents should shelter in place when possible and avoid traveling into Menasha unless absolutely necessary.
Tornado Warning Vs. Tornado Watch: Differences and Severity Levels
A tornado watch means weather conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes. Watches are typically issued for large areas and can remain in effect for several hours. While a watch does not mean a tornado has been spotted, it signals that residents should stay alert, monitor forecasts and be prepared to take shelter if conditions worsen.
A tornado warning is a much more urgent alert. Warnings are issued when a tornado has been sighted by observers or indicated by weather radar. When a warning is issued, residents are urged to take shelter immediately because a tornado is occurring or is imminent.
The NWS issued multiple tornado warnings across eastern Wisconsin on Monday, including a "particularly dangerous situation" (PDS) tornado warning for the Appleton-Menasha area. A PDS warning is reserved for situations in which forecasters believe a significant and potentially destructive tornado poses a substantial threat to life and property.
A PDS warning is used only in the most dangerous situations and is one step below a tornado emergency, the National Weather Service's most severe tornado alert.
Safety Advice
The National Weather Service advises people under a tornado warning to seek shelter immediately in a sturdy building and avoid windows. Officials also stress that drivers should not attempt to outrun a tornado and should instead seek shelter if possible. Those in mobile homes, vehicles, or temporary structures are especially vulnerable and should move to a more secure location as quickly as possible. Emergency managers recommend taking cover in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a building, away from exterior walls and doors. Residents are also encouraged to monitor local weather alerts and have multiple ways to receive emergency warnings, as tornado conditions can change rapidly and with little notice.
If time allows before seeking shelter, consider making sure everyone is prepared for what they may need if the worst situation unfolds around them: bicycle helmets can prevent head injuries from flying or falling debris, wearing good shoes for hiking out of debris, having a jacket or blanket, water, and a backup power supply.
Tornado emergency kits can also be put together, which typically include first aid items, flashlights, batteries, cash in small bills, nonperishable food, and important documents inside a waterproof bag.
Free NOAA weather radios are occasionally distributed through local emergency management agencies, community preparedness programs, nonprofit organizations, and special weather-safety campaigns, particularly in areas prone to tornadoes, hurricanes, or flooding. These programs often prioritize seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income households. You can also purchase one.
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What's Happening Right Now in Wisconsin
As emergency crews continued responding Monday afternoon, authorities urged residents to avoid affected areas and call 911 only for emergencies.
Menasha officials also said emergency cooling shelters had been opened at Christ the Rock Church, the Menasha Senior Center and the Menasha Public Library for residents needing relief from the heat or basic assistance.
The full extent of the damage was not immediately known, and officials said assessments were ongoing. Menasha officials told Newsweek they could not confirm any fatalities or major injuries as of Monday afternoon, while emergency crews continued responding across the city.
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What Happens Next
Damage assessments remained ongoing through Monday evening as local officials worked to restore access to affected neighborhoods and coordinate cleanup efforts.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon, Gray R. Thomas, Anna Commander, Shakeema Edwards, Sam Wilson.
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