Wisconsin Tornado Damages Homes, Leaves Thousands Without Power

A tornado tore through parts of Menasha and Appleton, Wisconsin, on Monday afternoon, damaging homes, uprooting trees, and leaving thousands of residents without electricity.

Powerful winds tore through Menasha and Appleton, Wisconsin. [Photo: NWS Green Bay, Wikimedia Commons]

Local authorities responded to numerous storm-related emergencies and urged residents to remain indoors while damage assessments continued, Dakota Smith reported for CNN.

The National Weather Service (NWS) described the tornado as "extremely dangerous" and issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) tornado warning shortly after noon Central Time.

After striking Menasha, the tornado crossed Lake Winnebago before dissipating over the water. Weather officials said it remained on the ground for at least 20 minutes, traveling from near Appleton to the lake's northern shoreline.

A preliminary National Weather Service damage survey rated the tornado at at least EF-2, although the assessment remains ongoing.

Drone footage showed severe destruction in parts of Appleton, with roofs ripped from homes and numerous trees uprooted or snapped, Sharif Paget and Ritu Prasad also reported for CNN.