Skip to main content

‘Extremely dangerous’ tornado hits northeast Wisconsin

(CNN) — An “extremely dangerous” tornado hit parts of Appleton and Menasha, Wisconsin, Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

It prompted the agency to issue a particularly dangerous situation tornado warning — the second highest level warning.

After hitting Menasha, the tornado moved over Lake Winnebago and dissipated over water. It was observed for at least 20 minutes from near Appleton to the northern coast of the lake.

The storm that spawned this tornado may produce more as it charges south across eastern Wisconsin and the National Weather Service says it is watching this storm carefully.

⛈️ Track the storms in the CNN Weather app

More than 20,000 customers are without power in Outagamie County, where Appleton is primarily located, as well as more than 12,000 customers in neighboring Winnebago County, according to PowerOutage.us. The entire city of Menasha may be without power, according to a post from Menasha Utilities, a municipally owned company.

“Emergency responders are currently assessing damage, addressing hazards, and responding to calls for service,” the Menasha Police Department posted on Facebook Monday afternoon.

CNN has reached out to authorities for more information.

More than 189,000 customers were without power in Illinois and Wisconsin as the storms that spawned the tornadoes tracked across the region with damaging winds.

A Level 3 of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms is in effect Monday for a large part of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, primarily for these powerful winds. Large hail is also a threats in these regions, but additional isolated tornadoes are possible.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

An unusually strong storm for summer will fuel a Northeast flash flood threat this week

(CNN) — The Northeast is facing a flash flood threat this week from an unusually strong storm that could drop up to a month’s worth of rain in just a few days in parts of the region.The soaking system will be spawned by a pocket of energy that’s firing up severe thunderstorms in parts of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley on Monday. Powerful wind gusts that could knock out power and down trees are the primary threat in those regions, but isolated tornadoes are possible. One “extremely dangerous” tornado hit northeast Wisconsin Monday afternoon.⛈️ Get your forecast in the CNN Weather appOn Tuesday, the energy will spin its way into the Northeast, where it will intensify and slow down dramatically. It’s expected to linger over parts of the region through at least Thursday.The storm’s strength when it’s over central New York on Wednesday will be more on par with a system we’d expect to see in October, November or December — not late-July. Storms are usually weaker in summer than winter because the jet stream doesn’t have as much energy to intensify them.At the same time, the system will tap into pipelines of Atlantic and Gulf moisture that have souped up to levels well above average for even midsummer’s humid reputation.Those extreme opposites will clash and cause multiple rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms to flourish over the Northeast.The forecastThe New York Tri-state area to Philadelphia has the biggest risk of flooding rain on Tuesday and Tuesday night, but a localized threat covers most other parts of the Northeast.A round of rainfall from eastern New York to Pennsylvania in the morning will likely be followed by additional bouts in the afternoon and evening. The heaviest storms could produce rainfall rates of an inch or more per hour.Urban and poor drainage areas are most likely to have the biggest flooding concern, but it’s not certain whether this week’s flooding impacts will rise to a more serious level as it has multiple times across the United States this month, including in New York City on July 18.Farther south, severe thunderstorms are a threat on Tuesday from around Washington, DC, to North Carolina. Wind damage is the primary concern from any storms that intensify.The most expansive flash flood threat will shift a bit farther north on Wednesday into southern New England, including Boston and Hartford, but New York City will also remain at risk.Downpours will likely be ongoing across this area as the day begins. Flash flooding could unfold as one or more narrow bands of heavy rain spread northeastward through the afternoon. New storms could form behind this area as well.At least scattered flash flooding impacts are possible, especially in urban and poor drainage areas, the National Weather Service in Boston said. Travel delays are likely at airports and on roads throughout the region.Pockets of heavy rainfall could persist in parts of the Northeast on Thursday, but it’s a little too soon to pinpoint any specific flooding concerns.Much of the Northeast flood threat area will pick up 1 to 4 inches of rainfall through Thursday.Higher amounts are possible in locations that are hit with the most rounds of rain, and in spots where bands of rain slow down or stall out for multiple hours. These spots would also have a higher chance of seeing more serious flooding impacts.The storm will weaken and push out of the Northeast on Friday, but a few scattered showers and storms could still billow up over the region.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
Read Next Story

Related Stories

Latest News
More Than One Million Participants Highlight Houston’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ Success Story
15 minutes ago

More Than One Million Participants Highlight Houston’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ Success Story

Can You Hear Chicago Breathe?

Texas Southern University Taps Dr. Juan M. Alexander Sr. to Drive Enrollment and Student Success

Exodus Women’s Conference “She Is Planted” Returns to Houston August 7–8, Expanding to Welcome 1,500 Women for Faith, Healing and Purpose at Fallbrook Church

Mikki’s Next Generation Serves the Same Delicious Recipes—and Lasagna, “Houston Style”