EF0 tornado in Brown County, Wisconsin

The tornado that developed 2.7 miles east-northeast of Mackville in Outagamie County at 12:40 am CDT moved into Brown County, entering near Highway 41, 1.8 miles northwest of Wrightstown, at 12:48 am CDT. The tornado first hit the Apple Creek Campground, snapping 50 trees and knocking over two camping trailers. As the tornado moved across the southern part of the county, at least 70 homes sustained at least minor damage, many from fallen trees (DI 27, DOD 3 and 4; DI 28, DOD 3 and 4). A large, free-standing garage was heavily damaged when the tornadic winds blew in two garage doors, causing the roof to be ripped off (DI 1, DOD 5). The tornado entered Manitowoc County 4.1 miles northwest of Rosecrans at 1:01 am CDT. Average path width of the tornado in Brown County was 175 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).