Rain, heat, and potential thunderstorms are moving into northeast Wisconsin, threatening to complicate recovery efforts for families clearing debris from the devastating July 27 tornado.
National Weather Service Green Bay meteorologist Roy Eckberg warns that while Sunday will bring cooler temperatures, the upcoming stretch of weather Friday and Saturday could present active hazards for cleanup crews and displaced residents.
High humidity will push the afternoon heat index into the upper 80s, according to Eckberg.
"Now today [July 30], the heat index this afternoon will be upper 80s, the temperature reaching a high of 90 degrees," said Eckberg. "People cleaning should be drinking lots of fluids."
Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Volunteers Annie Wierzchowski and Gary Cebulski load donated goods in the distribution center at the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)The damaged Menasha Water Filtration Plant in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Volunteers Darrell Thatcher and Amy Cebulski work in the distribution center at the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Damage to Nathan Calder Stadium in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Katherine Decamp salvages items from her home during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Volunteer Syd Lybert collects donations from Samantha Neal at the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Volunteer Heather Zimmerman unloads donated goods in the distribution center at the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Volunteer Aidan Lybert stacks donated bread in the distribution center at the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Volunteer Dave Vanderkolk clears debris from a driveway during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Erin Dewitt asks for safe travel directions from a Wisconsin State Trooper during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)The damaged Menasha Water Filtration Plant in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Jeb Saelens, Door County director of emergency management, leads safety training for volunteers at the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Cassie Haufe clears debris from her yard during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Volunteer Dahlia Cast stacks donated canned goods at the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)A volunteer loads donated water at the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Damage to Nathan Calder Stadium in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)The damaged Menasha Water Filtration Plant in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Volunteers Dave Vanderkolk and Pat Berrett, right, work to clear debris during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Volunteer Sonya Anthes, right, registers at the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Tracy Ondik, East Central Incident Management team, leads safety training for volunteers at the former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Fox Cities campus during day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Day 3 of tornado clean-up in Menasha, Wisconsin on July 29, 2026. An estimated EF-3 tornado tore through the area on July 27. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin (Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
Rain chances will steadily ramp up over the next 48 hours, with the heaviest downpours expected to pass just south of Appleton.
On Friday afternoon, there is a 40-50% chance of rain, beginning early to mid-afternoon, bringing a light 1/10th to 2/10ths of an inch. There is a low 10% chance of thunderstorms in the Neenah-Menasha area.
On Friday night, the rain chances peak at 65-75%. This will be the wettest period, dropping 1/4 to 1/2 an inch of water. The chance of thunderstorms rises slightly to 10-15%.
And on Saturday, the area faces another potential round of rain with isolated thunderstorms, adding up to another 1/10th of an inch, but with a 20% chance of precipitation as the day progresses.
Eckberg strongly advises residents to adjust their recovery plans around the changing weather, emphasizing structural safety over cleaning.
The incoming rain and wind could travel over damaged properties. Make sure to stay away from exposed areas until they are properly cleaned and secured by the proper response teams.
If you need a clear, safe window for outdoor work, Aug. 2 is predicted to be clear and offers the best conditions for uninterrupted cleanup by inclement weather.
Emma Johnson is the Appleton Post-Crescent's summer intern. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Upcoming storms, heat threaten Menasha, Appleton-area tornado cleanup