Tornado strikes Appleton and Menasha, Wisconsin, prompting high-level warning

A tornado touched down near Appleton, Wisconsin, and traveled eastward to Menasha before moving over Lake Winnebago, where it weakened and dissipated. The National Weather Service issued a particularly dangerous situation tornado warning, the second-highest level of alert, for the affected area. The storm was observed for at least 20 minutes as it crossed from Appleton to the lake's northern shore.

Menasha police advised residents to remain indoors, avoid downed power lines, and refrain from traveling unless essential. Menasha Utilities reported that the entire city could lose electricity, and outage data indicated that more than 15,000 customers in Winnebago and Calumet counties and about 18,000 in neighboring Outagamie County were without power.

The parent storm system continues to move south across eastern Wisconsin, with forecasters monitoring it for additional severe weather. A Level 3 severe thunderstorm risk remains in effect for much of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, with the potential for strong wind gusts, large hail and isolated tornadoes. Across Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, over 350,000 customers have lost power as damaging winds accompany the storm complex.