Confirmed Tornado Strikes Appleton Area, Severe Weather Persists
On July 27, 2026, a confirmed tornado was spotted between Appleton and Oshkosh at 12:01 p.m. CDT, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The tornado struck the northern end of Lake Winnebago as spotters and radar confirmed its presence. The tornado warning for Appleton expired at 12:45 p.m. as the storm weakened, but subsequent warnings were issued for Fond du Lac and Dodge County, expiring at 1:45 p.m. Dodge County experienced its second tornado warning of the day. Severe thunderstorms brought winds up to 70 mph, hail as large as ping-pong balls, and funnel clouds were reported near Rosendale and Ripon. Over 21,000 We Energies customers were without power as of 3:45 p.m. CDT. The NWS emphasized the life-threatening nature of the situation, warning of flying debris, potential destruction of mobile homes, and considerable damage to structures and vehicles.