NWS Upgrades June North Dakota Tornado to EF‑5
The National Weather Service’s Grand Forks office has upgraded a tornado that struck southeast North Dakota on June 20, 2025, to an EF‑5—the first U.S. tornado to receive that rating in 12 years. The Enderlin‑area twister carved a roughly 12‑mile path from Enderlin to Alice between about 11:02 p.m. and 11:21 p.m., produced estimated peak winds over 210 mph, destroyed farm structures, tipped loaded freight cars and threw a tanker about 475 feet; authorities say two men and a woman were killed.
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📌 Key Facts
- NWS upgrade: Grand Forks office assessed the June 20, 2025 tornado as EF‑5 with estimated peak winds over 210 mph.
- Casualties and damage: three fatalities (two men, one woman); several grain cars tipped, tanker car thrown ~475 feet, at least one farm foundation 'swept clean.'
- Scope and timing: tornado lasted just under 20 minutes (11:02 p.m.–11:21 p.m.) and left a ~12‑mile path from Enderlin to Alice, ND.