Introduction to the North Dakota Tornado
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Grand Forks, N.D., reevaluated a tornado from June 20, 2025. Completing additional surveys and working extensively with wind damage experts, the new estimated maximum wind speed is greater than 210 mph, making it an EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita tornado scale.
The Significance of the Tornado
This is the strongest tornado to touch down in the United States since the Moore, Okla. twister on May 20, 2013.
What You Need To Know
- A reevaluation of the June 20, 2025 tornado gave the rating EF5
- This is the strongest tornado to touch down in the United States since 2013
- Estimated winds in the twister exceeded 210 mph
June 20, 2025, was an active day of severe weather in the Plains. Meteorologist Carl Jones, with NWS Grand Forks, explained that 22 tornadoes touched down that day in North Dakota.
He added, “This is also a preliminary number that may yet change as we continue to scour satellite imagery and sift through damage reports (still!) and assess whether it was tornadic or not – much further complicated by the fact that large area within the state experience significant damage from the derecho in the same areas that saw tornadoes.”
The tornado south of Enderlin, N.D., was a strong tornado. “The initial storm damage survey team found severe damage consistent with an EF3 or greater tornado with a preliminary estimated peak wind speed of 160 mph.”
However, Jones says that wasn’t the end of it. “A Quick Response Team (QRT), a team of wind damage experts, was assembled and agreed that given the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale damage indicators available, there were points consistent with high-end EF3, if not greater.”
The Reevaluation Process
Meaning additional investigation was needed, and the tornado could end up being rated higher. A train derailment south of Enderlin, ND during the time of one twister was a big prompt for the reevaluation. Collaborating with structural damage experts, namely the Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University’s Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory, they were able to model object trajectories and the force/wind required to move such objects.
This was important and Jones says, "Allowed for the capability to assess the train derailment of 33 train cars, including several full grain cars that were tilted over and tanker cars that were lofted off the track, that yielded the EF5 intensity rating."
Additionally, other indicators for the reevaluation included high-end tree damage near the Maple River, east of Enderlin, as well as a foundation to a farmstead that was swept clean with debris scattered downwind.
The Tornado’s Impact
Check out the tornado track on the interactive map below, and click on the icons for damage reports and photos. While several tornadoes touched down in North Dakota that day, the EF5-rated twister was located south of I-94, just north of Lisbon, N.D.
The tornado was on the ground for just under 20 minutes and traveled just over 12 miles. It reached 1 mile in width. While no injuries were reported from this twister, three deaths occurred.
Historical Context: The May 20, 2013 EF5 Tornado
What makes this newly revised classification of the twister so impressive is that this is the first EF5 tornado in more than twelve years. The last time a tornado this strong touched down in the United States was on May 20, 2013, in Moore, Okla.
A tornado outbreak occurred in the afternoon and evening of May 20, 2013. Several supercell thunderstorms developed during the early afternoon in central Oklahoma. One of these storms rapidly intensified, producing a tornado that touched down on the west side of Newcastle, Okla. The tornado became violent and then tracked across the city of Moore and parts of south Oklahoma City. It was on the ground for approximately 40 minutes before finally dissipating.
Conclusion
The reevaluation of the June 20, 2025 tornado in North Dakota to an EF5 is significant, marking the strongest tornado to touch down in the United States since 2013. The tornado’s impact was substantial, with estimated winds exceeding 210 mph and a width of 1 mile. Understanding the severity of such events is crucial for improving weather forecasting and mitigation strategies.
FAQs
- What was the estimated maximum wind speed of the June 20, 2025 tornado in North Dakota?
The estimated maximum wind speed was greater than 210 mph. - How long was the tornado on the ground?
The tornado was on the ground for just under 20 minutes. - What was the width of the tornado?
The tornado reached a width of 1 mile. - How many deaths occurred as a result of the tornado?
Three deaths occurred. - What was the last EF5 tornado to touch down in the United States before the June 20, 2025 tornado?
The last EF5 tornado to touch down in the United States was on May 20, 2013, in Moore, Okla.
