Severe tornado strikes Wisconsin, causes major power outages

A tornado described by the US National Weather Service as "extremely dangerous" struck the areas of Appleton and Menasha in northeastern Wisconsin yesterday, causing damage and widespread power outages as emergency teams began assessing the situation and responding to reports.

The agency issued a severe weather warning, the second-highest tornado alert level, after the tornado was spotted near Menasha moving southeast at about 64 kilometers per hour.

The tornado remained on the ground for at least 20 minutes before crossing over Lake Winnebago and dissipating over the water. The National Weather Service warned that the storm system could produce additional tornadoes as it moved south through eastern Wisconsin.

The storms left more than 20,000 customers without power in Outagamie County, which includes most of Appleton, and over 12,000 in neighboring Winnebago County. The Menasha Utilities Company reported that the outage may have affected the entire city.

Menasha police said emergency crews are assessing damage, addressing hazards, and responding to residents' reports. So far, there have been no confirmed reports of deaths or injuries.