An extremely dangerous tornado swept through northeastern Wisconsin on Monday afternoon, leaving a trail of destruction across Winnebago County. The National Weather Service confirmed the twister, which occurred about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee, was spun off by a large storm system moving through the Great Lakes fueled by a buildup of heat and humidity. The tornado moved over Lake Winnebago toward Fond du Lac County around 12:25 p.m., blackening the midday sky.
The twister ravaged several communities in the Fox Cities region, including Appleton, Menasha, and Neenah. Images showed homes stripped of roofs and siding, others leveled, and cars flipped over. In Menasha, Police Chief Matt Albrecht stated that some homes and businesses were severely impacted. Streets were littered with tree limbs and twisted metal was scattered across a highway.
The storm knocked out power to more than 30,000 people. In Menasha, a city of approximately 18,000 people, the entire population is believed to be without power because of a downed transmission line. Ferocious winds also toppled trees and power lines across the affected area.
No deaths have been reported following the storm, though workers were forced to shelter in office basements during the event. First responders spent Tuesday searching homes and buildings for possible victims.