Destructive tornado touches down near Appleton, Wisconsin, leaving trail of damage

A destructive tornado ripped through parts of Wisconsin on Monday afternoon, and images from the affected area showed toppled trees and power lines and damaged buildings.

The tornado, confirmed by the National Weather Service, touched down south of Appleton, Wisconsin, in Outagamie County southwest of Green Bay. The tornado moved through the cities of Neenah and Oshkosh, in Winnebago County.

"I have been briefed on the storms making their way through Wisconsin. The state is ready to assist communities however we can," Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a social media post on Monday afternoon.

The twister was also reported over parts of nearby Lake Winnebago as a waterspout. The tornado has since dissipated.

According to initial reports from Outagamie County officials, there is numerous tree damage in the area, along with fallen branches and a few downed trees clogging streets.

A power outage was affecting more than 400,000 utility customers in Wisconsin and Illinois on Monday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us.

The city of Menasha, Wisc., said in a statement that its police, fire and public works departments are "actively responding to significant storm damage" through the city.

"Please do not travel into Menasha at this time unless it is an emergency," the city's statement said. "Traffic congestion, downed trees, power lines, debris, and blocked roadways are preventing emergency responders and utility crews from reaching affected areas."

The tornado hit as a line of severe thunderstorms swept across eastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois on Monday afternoon. Thunderstorms were reported in Milwaukee before hitting the Chicago metropolitan area.

The severe thunderstorms are capable of producing very large hail in the area.

A Flash Flood Warning was issued on Monday afternoon for the Chicago area.

Destructive straight-line wind gusts over 70 mph are also possible in parts of northeastern Illinois over the next hour.

More severe thunderstorms are possible on Monday afternoon from Wisconsin to Kentucky.

The greatest threat through Monday evening stretches from southeastern Wisconsin to western Ohio, an area that is under a 3 out of 5 risk for severe weather, with numerous severe thunderstorms packing potentially destructive wind gusts of 60 to more than 70 mph. Large hail and isolated tornadoes are possible.

The risk area includes the cities of Milwaukee, Chicago, and Indianapolis.