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Powerful Tornado Leaves Widespread Damage in Wisconsin but Time of Day May Have Saved Lives
Preliminary data indicates the twister was an EF3, and officials said more than 15,000 customers lost power as restoration could take days.
On Monday, July 27, 2026, an EF3 tornado struck Wisconsin's Fox Cities, devastating Appleton, Menasha, and Fox Crossing with peak winds of 225 km/h .
Fueled by a large storm system moving through the Great Lakes, the twister remained on the ground for more than 20 minutes, cutting a roughly 12-mile path of destruction.
Regional Medical Centers in Appleton and Neenah treated 40 people for mostly minor injuries; "I think what helped us was it was during the week," Menasha Police Chief Matt Albrecht said.
Over 15,000 customers in Winnebago and Outagamie counties remained without power Tuesday as Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency to address widespread infrastructure damage.
Winnebago County Executive Gordon Hintz stated the area remains at the assessment stage, while community members including Duncan's Window & Door provided food and supplies to affected residents.