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A tornado that caused severe damage in northeastern Wisconsin on July 27 has been preliminarily ruled as an EF3, the National Weather Service said.

The tornado stayed on the ground for more than 20 minutes, damaging homes and businesses in Neenah, Menasha and Appleton. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

The tornado developed two miles northwest of Appleton and tracked southward into Fox Crossing and Menasha, the NWS said. EF3 tornadoes carry wind speeds of 136-165 mph.

“If you experienced any damage, it’s important to notify your insurance agent or company right away to begin the claim process,” Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Nathan Houdek said.

The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance recommends the following tips for processing storm damage:

• Make a list of damaged items, including cracks in walls, damage to siding or shingles, spoiled food due to a long-term power outage, etc.
• Take photographs of the damage before you begin to clean up.
• Don’t throw out any damaged property without the claim adjuster’s agreement.
• Keep all receipts that document the cost of the repairs or the replacement of damaged items.

Wisconsin has experienced an unusually active storm season. Through mid-July, the state had 39 documented tornadoes, which tied it with 2025 for the sixth-most in an entire since 1950, according to the NWS.

On average the state experiences 23 tornadoes throughout the full year.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm