EF1 tornado in Waupaca County, Wisconsin

A tornado formed just after 12:20 am CDT and quickly moved east-southeast. The storm hit a campground, blowing several camper trailers over. Two people sustained minor injuries at the campground. Over 100 trees were snapped or uprooted along the path of the tornado (DI 27, DOD 3 and 4; DI 28, DOD 3 and 4). The tornado moved into Outagamie County about 3.1 miles south of New London at 12:26 am CDT. The average path width of the tornado in Waupaca County was 75 yards.

A line of severe thunderstorms, known as a quasi-linear convective system (QLCS), produced six tornadoes and widespread damaging winds across east-central Wisconsin during the late night hours of August 6-7. The storms formed ahead of a cold front that also produced severe weather in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

The tornadoes occurred within about 50 minutes--between 12:22 am and 1:10 am CDT. Hundreds of homes, businesses and farm buildings were damaged. Two injuries occurred at a campground in Waupaca County. Thousands of trees and power lines were also downed, leaving tens of thousands of people without power. The strongest tornado of the event reached EF2 intensity (winds estimated at 115 to 120 mph). This tornado caused significant damage to a church in New London.

The six tornadoes that occurred on August 7 were the most nighttime tornadoes in a single event in northeast Wisconsin since accurate tornado records began (1950).