United States – A devastating tornado that struck eastern North Dakota in June 2025 has been officially upgraded to an EF5, marking the first tornado of such intensity in the US since 2013. The tornado caused three fatalities and extensive damage, with wind speeds exceeding 210 mph, reports 24brussels.
EF5 Tornado Confirmed After Detailed Analysis
On Monday, October 6, 2025, meteorologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Grand Forks, North Dakota, confirmed that the tornado moving through Enderlin and Alice on June 20 qualified as an EF5 tornado—the highest rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale. This marks the end of a 12-year EF5 drought in the United States, which has recorded only 60 such tornadoes since 1950, as reported by CNN and CBS News.
Initially classified as an EF3 with estimated winds of 160 mph, further forensic damage analysis revealed winds exceeding 210 mph. This reclassification followed a collaborative effort among the NWS, the Northern Tornadoes Project, and independent scientists who assessed severe damage indicators, including a freight train tipped off its tracks, tree debarking, and a farmstead swept clean off its foundation.
Path, Duration, and Impact of the Tornado
The tornado touched down near Enderlin, approximately 40 miles southwest of Fargo, and traveled north for around 12 miles before dissipating near Alice, North Dakota. The storm lasted about 19 minutes, from approximately 11:02 p.m. to 11:21 p.m.
According to Reuters and Fox 9 News reporter Leon Purvis, the tornado tragically killed two men and a woman. It overturned several fully loaded grain cars and tossed an empty tanker car nearly 475 feet, illustrating the extraordinary wind force. Trees were uprooted, while multiple buildings, including farms, were demolished or entirely swept away.
Understanding EF5 Tornadoes and Their Rarity
EF5 tornadoes are characterized by wind speeds exceeding 200 mph and inflict catastrophic damage. Since comprehensive record-keeping began in 1950, only 60 EF5 tornadoes have been documented in the United States. Meteorologist Melinda Beerends, who leads the NWS Grand Forks office, emphasized that the combination of necessary damage indicators and a tornado attaining EF5 status is extremely rare. “It’s hard sometimes to get tornadoes to hit something where they can be rated EF5,” she explained to the Associated Press.
The most recent EF5 tornado before this event struck Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013, resulting in 24 fatalities and extensive structural damage. The Enderlin tornado marks the end of the longest span on record without an EF5-class tornado, a period referred to by experts as the “EF-5 Drought.”
Meteorological Context and Wider Storm Activity
The EF5 tornado was part of a severe storm system that included multiple other tornadoes and a damaging derecho that swept across North Dakota and northern Minnesota on the night of June 20. This storm event generated wind gusts exceeding 100 mph, amplifying the destruction.
Videos and imagery captured by residents and local news crews show the ominous swirling of the tornado as it tore through the rural landscape. Emergency responders faced significant challenges due to the extensive devastation and the overnight timing of the event.
Scientific Methods for Re-Evaluation of Tornado Intensity
The categorization upgrade from EF3 to EF5 resulted from comprehensive damage assessments, including detailed surveys of freight train displacement, structural failures, and vegetation damage. Radar velocity data also supported this revision, indicating extreme wind speeds beyond the initial estimates. Experts from the Northern Tornadoes Project collaborated closely with the NWS to ensure accuracy in evaluation.
The tornado’s peak width was about 1.05 miles (1,850 yards), contributing to widespread destruction.
Community and Emergency Response
Local officials and residents continue to work through the aftermath of the tornado’s severe impact. The deaths and extensive property damage have significantly affected the North Dakota community. Emergency management agencies are reviewing response efforts to extract lessons for future disaster preparedness.
Looking Ahead
This EF5 designation underscores the critical importance of tornado awareness, advanced warning systems, and the need for resilience in vulnerable communities. Researchers will continue to monitor changing tornado patterns amid climate variability to determine if tornado frequency or intensity trends are shifting.
The Enderlin EF5 tornado serves as a stark reminder of nature’s power and the ongoing risks faced by communities in Tornado Alley and beyond.
