A Fox Crossing Police Department officer captured an EF-3 tornado on a dashboard camera while driving through Menasha, Wisconsin [1].
The footage provides a rare, close-up look at the destructive power of a high-intensity tornado in a residential and commercial area. Such records assist meteorologists in studying storm behavior and help emergency services improve response protocols during severe weather events.
The storm occurred on July 27, 2026 [3], as the officer was weather-spotting to document the system. The dashcam footage, which was released on August 4, 2026 [4], shows the tornado ripping through Airport Road [5]. The path of the storm brought it near the parking lot of an elementary school [1].
Officials rated the tornado as an EF-3 [1]. According to reports, the storm produced maximum wind speeds of 140 mph [2]. The officer remained in the squad car to record the event as the vortex moved across the street.
While some reports listed the affected area as Appleton, other records specify the location as Menasha [1], [5]. The video captures the sudden intensity of the winds and the resulting debris field created by the EF-3 vortex.
The Fox Crossing Police Department used the recording to highlight the dangers of severe weather. The officer's decision to activate the camera allowed for a detailed visual account of the storm's progression through the community [2].
“The storm produced maximum wind speeds of 140 mph.”
The capture of an EF-3 tornado by law enforcement underscores the volatility of summer storm seasons in the U.S. Midwest. Because EF-3 storms are capable of significant structural damage, this footage serves as a critical tool for public safety awareness and atmospheric research regarding wind velocity and debris patterns in populated areas.
