Story perspectives

124-mph Tornado Devastates Appleton, Leaves 400k Powerless

7/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado with 124 mph winds that touched down Appleton, Wisconsin, damaging Appleton, Menasha and Neenah.
Governor Tony Evers said Wisconsin is ready to assist affected communities.
Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford, Menasha Mayor Hammond and Neenah Council President Dan Steiner each declared a disaster on July 27, 2026.
PowerOutage.us said 400,000 customers in Wisconsin and Illinois lost power, leading to a boil-water order for Fox Crossing and Menasha.

History

Historical Context

The July 27 2026 Appleton, Wisconsin tornado that led Governor Tony Evers and Mayor Jake Woodford to declare emergencies mirrors the May 3-4 1999 Great Plains outbreak, which produced 141 tornadoes, including the F5 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado with 321 mph winds and $1 billion damage—the first U.S. tornado-emergency warning. Both incidents highlight the Midwest’s tornado risk and need for stronger grid resilience and federal-state coordination.

1 of 2

Story summary

The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado with 124 mph winds that touched down Appleton, Wisconsin, damaging Appleton, Menasha and Neenah.
Governor Tony Evers said Wisconsin is ready to assist affected communities.
Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford, Menasha Mayor Hammond and Neenah Council President Dan Steiner each declared a disaster on July 27, 2026.
PowerOutage.us said 400,000 customers in Wisconsin and Illinois lost power, leading to a boil-water order for Fox Crossing and Menasha.

1 / 2