Fox Cities Tornado Causes Extensive Damage, Assessments Ongoing
An EF-3 tornado that struck the Fox Cities area in late July has caused significant damage, with assessments still underway as of August 6, 2026. The hardest-hit areas include Menasha, located along the northwest side of Lake Winnebago. Winnebago County has reported 34 structures destroyed, 244 with major damage, and 735 with minor damage. Outagamie County, which includes most of Appleton, reported fewer destroyed buildings but similar levels of damage, including 1 business destroyed, 13 with major damage, and 35 with minor damage. Calumet County experienced minimal structural damage but reported vegetation and roadway impacts, as well as power outages. Local officials are preparing to submit damage reports to the governor's office, which may lead to a federal disaster declaration request.