The tornado that cut a path of devastation across parts of the Fox Cities on Monday, July 27 is far from the first to leave its mark on Winnebago County.
The estimated EF-3 tornado hit hardest in Menasha and Fox Crossing, destroying homes and businesses, toppling power lines and scattering all manner of debris. The cleanup process was already underway in those communities on Tuesday, July 28.
The National Weather Service told the Journal Sentinel it was the strongest tornado in Outagamie and Winnebago counties since April 27, 1984, when a tornado caused one death, multiple injuries and destroyed homes across the region.
Even before Monday’s twister, it had been a busy year for tornadoes in Wisconsin. As of mid-July, there had been 39 confirmed tornadoes across the state since the start of the year, according to the National Weather Service. Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes each year.
The last tornado – or, as it turns out, three tornadoes – in Winnebago County took place June 20, 2020, according to weather service records. In less than an hour, three EF-0 tornadoes were reported by witnesses: the first touched down close to Highway 45 near Butte des Morts, the second was spotted over Lake Butte des Morts near County S and the third was seen over Lake Winnebago.
Here’s a look back at other notable tornadoes in Winnebago County history.
June 14, 2017: EF-1
A tornado touched down shortly before 2:30 p.m. in far northeastern Winnebago County near Fox Crossing, damaging nearly two dozen trees and uprooting others, include one that fell and damaged a home. The tornado continued in Outagamie County, where it damaged businesses in Appleton, Little Chute and Kimberly.
April 10, 2011: EF-1
The tornado developed near Poy Sippi in Waushara County, damaging barns and uprooting trees before crossing into Winnebago County shortly after 7 p.m. and moving along the northeast shore of Lake Poygan. Two homes were severely damaged, with portions of their roofs torn off, and several other homes had less severe damage.
June 10, 2005: Multiple F-0
Four F-0 tornadoes were reported in Winnebago County on a single day. The first touched down at 3:05 p.m. north of Winneconne. The second was reported southeast of Oshkosh on Lake Winnebago at 7:10 p.m., followed by the third east-southeast of Oshkosh on Lake Winnebago at 7:22 p.m. and, similarly, the fourth east-southeast of Oshkosh on Lake Winnebago at 7:48 p.m.
Aug. 14, 1987: F-1
A tornado that formed a mile west of Menasha shortly after 5:30 p.m. was 100 yards wide and traveled a quarter of mile, twisting and ripping away the siding and roof of a warehouse. Two 100-square-foot cement slabs were also torn from the building, and trees and power lines were toppled.
April 27, 1984: F-4
In the late afternoon, multiple thunderstorms developed in Wisconsin, producing a total of 10 tornadoes across the state.
About 3:20 p.m., a tornado developed and quickly intensified in northern Winnebago County before moving northeast and hitting Clayton, killing one person and destroying numerous houses. The tornado continued northeast toward Appleton, colliding with the west side of Outagamie County Airport and getting close to Greenville before dissipating near Freedom.
The storm killed one person and injured 19 others, the National Weather Service says. An estimated two dozen homes were destroyed and many more were damaged across the region. The total cost of the destruction: $2.5 million. The tornado traveled at about 40 mph and, for a short time, was more than a quarter mile wide. It remained on the ground for more than 27 miles.
April 21, 1974: F-4
The tornado touched down about 2:40 p.m. south of Ripon in Fond du Lac County, damaging or destroying buildings on multiple farms before approaching southwest Oshkosh, where it damaged hundreds of homes and businesses, including 33 houses that were completely destroyed. In Oshkosh, 35 people were treated for injuries, including 10 that were hospitalized.
May 8, 1964: F-2
A tornado formed about 6:30 p.m. near Winneconne, then moved northeast across Menasha, hitting the John Strange Paper Company, and continued into Neenah. The Fox Point Shopping Center was damaged, with windows blown in and parts of the roof blown off. At least 10 barns were destroyed near Kaukauna, the weather service says.
April 3, 1956: F-4
About 1:45 p.m., a tornado developed near Berlin in Green Lake County, then moved more than 11 miles across rural areas of Waushara County before dissipating west of Omro in Winnebago County. In Berlin, six people were killed and 50 injured, according to the weather service.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Winnebago County has a long history of tornadoes. Here’s a look back
Reporting by Chris Mueller, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Chris Mueller, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
