Appleton, WI Tornado History — 110 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Appleton, WI had?
Appleton has had 110 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Appleton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Appleton was an EF1 on May 21, 2024.
When is tornado season in Appleton?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Appleton, with 35 on record. April through June account for 66 of the 110 tornadoes on record near Appleton.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Appleton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 40 total, averaging 2.0 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Appleton since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
A tornado... preliminarily EF-3 with estimated winds up to 140 mph... developed 2 miles WNW of Appleton and tracked southward into Fox Crossing and Menasha with damage (GRB)
Within 25 miles of Appleton. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Appleton
16 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Appleton since 1950, across 5 events. 126 injuries have been reported across all events. 1956 was the deadliest year on record near Appleton.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 3, 1956, which caused 7 fatalities along a 11.5-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Appleton
What the record shows near Appleton
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Appleton, with 32 of the 110 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 7 so far. The Appleton record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Appleton, 87 reached EF0 or EF1 and 22 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Appleton is rated EF4, of which 4 are logged. A further 1 near Appleton is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Appleton has averaged 2.0 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 40 in total. 2011 was the busiest of them with 7, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.