Tornado in Wisconsin: Storms cause "extensive and severe damage"

A tornado touched down in Wisconsin early Monday afternoon as severe storms destroyed homes, downed trees, and knocked out power to thousands of customers.

Timeline:

The National Weather Service confirmed on radar that a tornado swept through Winnebago County, which is about 90 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The twister touched down around 12:25 p.m. and moved over Lake Winnebago before moving toward Fond du Lac County. 

Big picture view:

No injuries were reported in the first hours after the tornado, but images and video captured in Appleton, Menasha, and the surrounding area show how the storms destroyed buildings and homes, smashed or overturned vehicles, and knocked over rows of trees.

Local perspective:

Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, whose county includes most of Appleton, said he did not have confirmation on fatalities or injuries, but said there was "extensive and severe damage" and warned residents that it is not safe to travel.

"Stay put if possible," he said. "Check on loved ones and neighbors."

What they're saying:

One person who was working in downtown Appleton at the time recounted how the sky turned dark as the storm passed overhead.

"The word we all were using was ‘ominous,’" he said. "It’s like, ‘Whoa, look at that.’ ... You looked outside and you thought it was three in the morning, it was that dark."

What's next:

The National Weather Service expected severe weather and possibly hail to continue in Wisconsin throughout Monday afternoon. 

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