Tornado Strikes Northeast Wisconsin, Leaving 30,000 Without Power

A violent tornado struck northeast Wisconsin on the afternoon of Monday, July 27, 2026, leaving more than 30,000 people without electricity and causing severe damage in several localities in Winnebago County.

The tornado darkened the sky in the middle of the day

The phenomenon touched down around 12:20 p.m., minutes after the National Weather Service issued a warning advising of winds up to 97 km/h. The sky went abruptly dark despite it being midday, and the storm advanced with its epicenter in the cities of Appleton and Menasha before continuing southward, crossing the Milwaukee and Chicago areas, where it lost strength.

Menasha, with its 18,000 residents, was left completely without power. The tornado ripped off roofs, overturned vehicles, and scattered branches and debris across streets and highways, complicating traffic and emergency response. Among the destroyed businesses were a laundromat, a bakery, and a neighborhood bar. A local employee described the moment of impact: “I heard crunching and popping sounds all around.”

No fatalities, according to local authorities

According to the Associated Press, as of Monday night there had been no deaths or serious injuries reported as a result of the storm, according to Gordon Hintz, the top authority in Winnebago County. Rescue teams managed to safely extract a person who had been trapped in the debris of one of the collapsed structures.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers addressed the emergency and assured that the state is prepared to collaborate with the affected localities in everything needed for recovery.

The storm system that produced the tornado formed under unusual heat and humidity conditions for the Great Lakes region at this time of year. That same atmospheric pattern also prompted tornado warnings in northern Illinois and Indiana during the same day, although the most significant reported damage was concentrated in Winnebago County.

Authorities continued on Tuesday to assess damage in Appleton and Menasha, while utility companies worked to restore power to the thousands of affected customers in the area.