Live newsroomScoop NewsLast newsroom update: Jul 29, 5:59 AM

Live source delayed — keeping the latest verified scores on screen while the desk reconnects.

BreakingWeatherReported

Wisconsin tornado causes extensive damage and cuts power to thousands of homes in Appleton, Menasha, Winnebago County

MADISON, Wis. -- First responders searched damaged homes and buildings on Tuesday for possible victims of a powerful tornado that carved a path of destruction through several northeastern Wisconsin communities. The twister touched down in the Fox Cities region, which includes Appleton, Menasha and Neenah, at around 1 p.m. Monday and remained on the ground for more than 20 minutes as it cut a roughly 12-mile path of destruction through an area, the National Weather Service reported. It was nearly a mile (1.6 kilometers) across at its widest, and it destroyed homes and businesses, flipped cars and knocked down rows of power lines in the region, which is roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Milwaukee.

Missing media or need the complete publisher report? Open ABC13 Houston

Scoop News DeskWisconsin · Published Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 1:06 AM UTCUpdated Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 5:59 AM UTC

Coverage image for: Wisconsin tornado causes extensive damage and cuts power to thousands of homes in Appleton, Menasha, Winnebago County

Media link supplied by the Scoop Newsroom app.

Scoop News reporting summary

The text below was supplied by the Scoop Newsroom app. Third-party reporting is attributed in the source panel.

The timing - it blew in when most people were awake and after warnings had been issued - could be why there have been no reported deaths, authorities said. "I think what helped us was it was during the week," Menasha Police Chief Matt Albrecht said at a news conference Tuesday. "Everybody was at work. Most people were not at home and at their place of employment." Authorities said a number of people were injured and treated at hospitals, but they didn't know exactly how many or how seriously. "The depth of the tornado and its impact is incredible, devastating.

Breaking news moves fast. Follow @Will466513 on X for breaking news alerts. Follow on X →

Transparent record

Story timeline

Dated changes to this report are shown here as they are published.

Version 3updated
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 4:15 AM UTC
MADISON, Wis. -- First responders searched damaged homes and buildings on Tuesday for possible victims of a powerful tornado that carved a path of destruction through several northeastern Wisconsin communities. The twister touched down in the Fox Cities region, which includes Appleton, Menasha and Neenah, at around 1 p.m. Monday and remained on the ground for more than 20 minutes as it cut a roughly 12-mile path of destruction through an area, the National Weather Service reported. It was nearly a mile (1.6 kilometers) across at its widest, and it destroyed homes and businesses, flipped cars and knocked down rows of power lines in the region, which is roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Milwaukee.
Version 4unpublished
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 5:59 AM UTC
Removed by Scoope Timeline eligibility policy