EF1 tornado in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin

The tornado that initially formed in Outagamie County 2.7 miles east-northeast of Mackville at 12:40 am CDT, and moved across Brown County and the Fox Valley, entered Manitowoc County about 4.1 miles northwest of Rosecrans at 1:01 am CDT. The tornado damaged several outbuildings (DI 1, DOD 3; DI 1, DOD 4) and damaged the roof of a barn (DI 1, DOD 2). A 110 year old stone structure at the Maribel Caves County Park was knocked over by the strong winds. Hundreds of trees were damaged or uprooted along the path of the tornado (DI 27, DOD 2 and 3; DI 28, DOD 3 and 4). The damage survey revealed the tornado ended a couple miles east of Maribel, but straight-line wind damage continued into the eastern part of the county. The average path width of the tornado in Manitowoc County was 125 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).