EF1 tornado in Outagamie County, Wisconsin

The tornado that touched down in Waupaca County at 12:22 am CDT crossed the Outagamie County line 3.1 miles south of New London at 12:26 am CDT. The tornado quickly moved east-southeast and damaged or uprooted dozens of trees (DI 27, DOD 3 and 4; DI 28, DOD 3 and 4). Based on radar analysis, the circulation of this tornado may have merged with the other tornado that was occurring concurrently in the county near Hortonville. The average path width in Outagamie 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).