EF1 tornado in Outagamie County, Wisconsin

A tornado formed near Highway 41 northwest of Appleton and moved east across northern portions of Appleton, Kimberly and Kaukauna. The tornado caused some roof damage to the Northland Mall (DI 11, DOD 2) and caused roof and window damage to two small retail buildings (DI 8, DOD 3 and 4). The storm then knocked over four wood electrical poles (DI 24, DOD 2 and 3) and uprooted or heavily damaged hundreds of trees in a nearby neighborhood (DI 27, DOD 2 and 3; DI 28, DOD 2 and 3). Although the houses in the area sustained relatively minor wind damage directly, fallen trees caused considerable collateral damage to roofs, siding and vehicles. The tornado exited Outagamie County about four miles east-southeast of Kaukauna at 12:49 am CDT and continued east into far southwest Brown County, then into northern Calumet County. The average path width in Outagamie 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).