North Dakota Tornado Upgraded To EF5, Nation’s First In 12 Years

ENDERLIN, ND — Meteorologists have confirmed that the deadly tornado that struck southeastern North Dakota in June was an EF5 — the strongest tornado rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale — marking the first EF5 tornado in the United States in 12 years.

Winds Reached 210 MPH, First EF5 Since 2013

According to the National Weather Service office in Grand Forks, the tornado that tore through Enderlin on June 20 reached estimated wind speeds of 210 mph, leveling farmsteads, tossing rail cars, and leaving a trail of devastation across 12 miles of Ransom and Cass counties.

The twister was 1.05 miles wide at its largest point and killed three people — two men and one woman — at two separate rural locations about 40 miles southwest of Fargo.

“This tornado had every hallmark of extreme intensity — complete structural destruction, displaced rail cars, and ground scouring,” said Melinda Beerends, meteorologist-in-charge at the NWS Grand Forks office.

First EF5 Tornado In Over A Decade

This marks the first EF5 tornado on U.S. soil since 2013, when a massive storm struck Moore, Oklahoma, killing 24 people.

Since the Enhanced Fujita Scale was adopted in 2007, only 10 tornadoes have reached EF5 status nationwide. Beerends noted that while there have been several “close calls” over the past decade, many lacked sufficient damage indicators to confirm such a high classification.

“It’s hard sometimes to get tornadoes to hit something that can actually show us the extent of the damage,” Beerends said.

Devastation Across The Prairie

The June storm uprooted trees, destroyed transmission towers, and scattered freight cars across the countryside. At one site, the foundation of a farmhouse was swept completely clean, with only the basement left behind.

Thousands of residents across Ransom, Sargent, and Cass counties lost power, and debris was found miles downwind.

Meteorologists say the tornado formed under highly unstable atmospheric conditions — warm, moist air combined with intense wind shear — that produced an ideal environment for violent rotation.

Months-Long Damage Assessment

The tornado was initially rated an EF3 in the days following the storm, but after months of fieldwork and data review, the final classification was upgraded to EF5 due to the degree of structural damage and the displacement of heavy rail equipment.

Assessments were delayed because of the unique nature of the destruction, which made traditional structural comparisons difficult.

Remembering The Victims

The Enderlin community continues to mourn the loss of three residents who died in the storm. Friends and family described one of the victims, Bradley Smith, as “a man who would help anyone, anytime,” according to local reports.

Officials say recovery efforts and damage repairs across affected farms remain ongoing as fall approaches.

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