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Photos Show Devastation in Wisconsin After Severe Weather
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Photos emerging from northeastern Wisconsin on Monday showed extensive damage after a confirmed tornado tore through the Fox Valley, striking the Appleton area and the neighboring city of Menasha before dissipating over Lake Winnebago.
The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed the tornado in Winnebago County around midday and issued an urgent "take cover now" warning as the storm moved southeast at approximately 40 miles per hour.
Images shared on social media showed damaged buildings, downed trees and debris scattered across affected communities. While some online posts raised fears of serious casualties, Menasha officials told Newsweek they could not confirm any fatalities or major injuries as of Monday afternoon.
According to the NWS Green Bay office, the tornado was spotted near Appleton shortly after noon. The weather service said residents were facing a life-threatening situation and urged people to seek shelter immediately.
The office told Newsweek on Monday afternoon via email: "We are sending a storm survey team down to Appleton later this afternoon to get the details to rate the intensity and find the start/end times and locations."
The tornado warning for Appleton expired at 12:45 p.m. CDT as the storm weakened. However, severe weather continued to move through eastern Wisconsin, and a subsequent tornado warning was issued for parts of Fond du Lac and Dodge counties.
Meteorologists also reported hail as large as two inches in diameter, while severe thunderstorm warnings remained in effect for portions of the region because of damaging winds and the possibility of additional tornadoes.
Social media images and videos circulated throughout the afternoon showing significant storm damage in Menasha and surrounding areas.
Menasha Police said emergency personnel, firefighters, public works crews and other agencies were responding to multiple impacted locations.
"We are aware of severe damage in broad areas," the department said in a Facebook post, urging residents to stay indoors, avoid downed power lines and stay away from damaged areas unless absolutely necessary.
The city also warned residents not to drive around road closures and to limit non-emergency travel while crews assess damage and work to restore services.
In an email to Newsweek, Menasha Police Community Liaison Officer Matthew Roe said officials could not confirm any fatalities or major injuries. He said damage assessments were ongoing and that crews were responding to numerous downed trees, downed power lines, debris-blocked roadways and reported natural gas leaks throughout the city.
Roe said emergency responders remain focused on life safety, hazard mitigation, damage assessment and restoring access to impacted areas. He added that multiple roads remain closed or restricted because of debris and utility hazards and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
The storm left a large number of Wisconsin residents without electricity.
Menasha Utilities said the entire city could be without power following the storm. According to outage-tracking data cited by CNN, more than 15,000 customers lost power in Winnebago and Calumet counties, while outages also affected tens of thousands of customers in neighboring Outagamie County, home to much of Appleton.
Elsewhere in the region, utility companies reported widespread outages as severe thunderstorms swept across parts of Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.
Roe said utility providers were continuing restoration efforts and that residents should shelter in place when possible and avoid traveling into Menasha unless absolutely necessary.
A tornado watch means weather conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes. Watches are typically issued for large areas and can remain in effect for several hours. While a watch does not mean a tornado has been spotted, it signals that residents should stay alert, monitor forecasts and be prepared to take shelter if conditions worsen.
A tornado warning is a much more urgent alert. Warnings are issued when a tornado has been sighted by observers or indicated by weather radar. When a warning is issued, residents are urged to take shelter immediately because a tornado is occurring or is imminent.
The NWS issued multiple tornado warnings across eastern Wisconsin on Monday, including a "particularly dangerous situation" (PDS) tornado warning for the Appleton-Menasha area. A PDS warning is reserved for situations in which forecasters believe a significant and potentially destructive tornado poses a substantial threat to life and property.
A PDS warning is used only in the most dangerous situations and is one step below a tornado emergency, the National Weather Service's most severe tornado alert.
The National Weather Service advises people under a tornado warning to seek shelter immediately in a sturdy building and avoid windows. Officials also stress that drivers should not attempt to outrun a tornado and should instead seek shelter if possible. Those in mobile homes, vehicles, or temporary structures are especially vulnerable and should move to a more secure location as quickly as possible. Emergency managers recommend taking cover in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a building, away from exterior walls and doors. Residents are also encouraged to monitor local weather alerts and have multiple ways to receive emergency warnings, as tornado conditions can change rapidly and with little notice.
If time allows before seeking shelter, consider making sure everyone is prepared for what they may need if the worst situation unfolds around them: bicycle helmets can prevent head injuries from flying or falling debris, wearing good shoes for hiking out of debris, having a jacket or blanket, water, and a backup power supply.
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