A destructive tornado with preliminary winds estimated at 111 mph ripped through parts of east-central Wisconsin on Monday afternoon, causing significant damage to buildings, trees, and power lines.
The tornado, confirmed by the National Weather Service, touched down south of Appleton in Outagamie County, then moved through the cities of Neenah and Oshkosh in Winnebago County. The damage has been assigned a preliminary EF-2 rating.
Images from the affected areas showed toppled trees and power lines, as well as damaged structures. In Menasha, officials reported significant storm damage and stated that police, fire, and public works departments were actively responding. The city urged residents to avoid traveling into Menasha unless it was an emergency due to traffic congestion, downed trees, power lines, debris, and blocked roadways hindering emergency responders and utility crews.
A widespread power outage affected more than 400,000 utility customers across Wisconsin and Illinois on Monday afternoon.
The tornado occurred as a line of severe thunderstorms swept across eastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois. These storms were capable of producing very large hail and destructive straight-line wind gusts exceeding 70 mph. A Flash Flood Warning was also issued for the Chicago area.
Additional severe thunderstorms were possible on Monday afternoon, extending from Wisconsin to Kentucky, with the greatest threat for severe weather, including potentially destructive wind gusts of 60 to over 70 mph, large hail, and isolated tornadoes, stretching from southeastern Wisconsin to western Ohio. This risk area included Milwaukee, Chicago, and Indianapolis.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stated on social media that he had been briefed on the storms and that the state was ready to assist affected communities.
Storm damage surveys were expected to continue on Tuesday in the area.