Powerful tornado hits Appleton-Menasha area

A tornado hit parts of Appleton and Menasha Monday afternoon, damaging homes and leaving thousands without power. 

The National Weather Service described the storm as “extremely dangerous” and issued a particularly dangerous situation tornado warning — the second-highest level warning — shortly after noon. The agency said that a cluster of thunderstorms moved southeast across the state and that preliminary surveys are being conducted in the Appleton area to assess the damage and strength of the tornado. 

The NWS also said that two-inch hail was reported across the area. 

More than 110,000 homes across the state were still without power as of 5:15 p.m., according to We Energies. 

“We are aware of severe damage in broad areas. We are asking the public to stay indoors, watch out for downed power lines, do not drive around road closures, and do not drive around the area unless absolutely necessary,” the Menasha Police Department posted on Facebook. 

Wisconsin has seen a higher than average number of tornadoes this year as shifting weather patterns caused by climate change push the country’s traditional “tornado alley” eastward. The state climatology office said that June 2026 was the state’s most active June for storms since at least 2008.